FINAL BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4017

Brief Description:  Requesting Congress to control or eradicate nonnative noxious weeds.

Sponsors:  Representatives Thompson, Fuhrman, Stevens, G. Fisher, Elliot, Sheldon, Cairnes, B. Thomas, Beeksma, Schoesler and Horn.

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development

Background:  The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974, as amended, directs each federal agency to establish and fund adequately an undesirable plants management program through the agency's budgetary process, to complete and implement cooperative agreements with state agencies regarding the management of undesirable plant species on the agency's federal lands, and to establish integrated management systems to control and contain undesirable plant species targeted under cooperative agreements.  These requirements apply if similar programs are being implemented generally on state or private lands in the same area.  Other federal law requires federal agencies to permit an agricultural or other appropriate state agency to enter federal lands to destroy noxious plants under a procedure approved by the agency if, among other conditions, the state has a similar procedure for private lands. 

This state has programs for controlling noxious weeds at the state, county, and district level.  These programs include obligations of owners of private lands to control certain noxious weeds and, if an owner fails to control the weeds, requirements for such weeds to be controlled at the owner's expense.

Summary:  Congress is asked to direct all federal instrumentalities and agencies managing or controlling property within this state to comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding the control or eradication of non-native noxious weeds in this state.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     92 0

Senate    46 0