HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4013

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Brief Description:  Removing the spotted owl from endangered or threatened species lists.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thompson, Fuhrman, Horn, Cairnes, Goldsmith, Radcliff, Hargrove, Lisk, Koster, Beeksma, D. Schmidt, Blanton, Stevens, McMahan, Sheldon, Pennington, B. Thomas, Buck, Benton, Smith, Mulliken and Honeyford.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/15/95, 2/17/95 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Cairnes; Elliot; Sheldon; Stevens; B. Thomas and Thompson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; G. Fisher; Jacobsen and Romero.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The Northern Spotted owl was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in June of 1990.  This listing was due, in large measure, to the estimated number of owls at that time.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that the currently known population of spotted owls is greater than what was estimated prior to the owl's listing as a threatened species. 

Summary of Bill:  The memorial states that the original estimates of owl populations were inaccurate and that the currently known population of owls is significantly greater than previously estimated.

Congress is requested to remove the Northern Spotted owl from the list of threatened and endangered species.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The original assumptions that led to the owl's listing were wrong.  The listing has caused great hardship to many people in the state.  The owl's possible extinction is not linked to logging but rather to predation and other natural forces that are beyond human control.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Bill Thompson, prime sponsor (in favor).