S-1849.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5332
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senate Committee on Ecology & Parks (originally sponsored by Senators West, Oke, Nelson, Owen, Pelz, Sutherland, Hargrove, Winsley, von Reichbauer, Erwin and Sheldon)
Read first time 02/22/93.
AN ACT Relating to underwater parks; and adding new sections to chapter 43.51 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The state parks and recreation commission shall act as the lead agency for the establishment of underwater parks in state waters and for environmental reviews of projects necessary to establish underwater parks. The commission may enter into interagency agreements to facilitate timely receipt of necessary permits from other state agencies and local governments.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The state parks and recreation commission may establish a system of underwater parks to provide for diverse recreational diving opportunities and to conserve and protect unique marine resources of the state of Washington. In establishing and maintaining an underwater park system, the commission may:
(1) Plan, construct, and maintain underwater parks;
(2) Acquire property and enter management agreements with other units of state government for the management of lands, tidelands, and bedlands as underwater parks;
(3) Construct artificial reefs and other underwater features to enhance marine life and recreational uses of an underwater park;
(4) Accept gifts and donations for the benefit of underwater parks;
(5) Facilitate private efforts to construct artificial reefs and underwater parks;
(6) Work with the federal government, local governments and other appropriate agencies of state government, including but not limited to: The department of natural resources, the department of fisheries, the department of wildlife and the natural heritage council to carry out the purposes of sections 1 through 4 of this act; and
(7) Contract with other state agencies or local governments for the management of an underwater park unit.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 The commission may charge a fee for recreational uses of an underwater park to offset a part or all of the costs of creating and administering the underwater park system. The fees and any monetary gifts shall be deposited to the underwater park account, which is created in the state treasury. Funds in the underwater park account shall be expended for the operation and creation of state underwater parks, and shall be subject to appropriation.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 In establishing an underwater park system, the commission shall seek to create diverse recreational opportunities in areas throughout Washington state. The commission shall place a high priority upon creating units that possess unique or diverse marine life or underwater natural or artificial features such as shipwrecks.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 43.51 RCW.
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