SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1632

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Natural Resources, March 31, 1995

Title:  An act relating to exchanging tidelands, shorelands, and beds of navigable waters.

Brief Description:  Exchanging certain public lands.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Horn, Basich and Fuhrman).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources:  3/30/95, 3/31/95 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Drew, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Hargrove, Haugen, Morton, Oke, Owen, Snyder, Strannigan and Swecker.

Staff:  Erika Lim (786-7488)

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources manages over 2 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands.  These aquatic lands were granted to the state at statehood and include tidelands, shorelands, and bedlands.  Approximately 39 percent of the state's original endowment of tidelands, 70 percent of the original shorelands, and all of the state's bedlands remain in public ownership.  Current law prevents any further sale of shorelands and tidelands except to public entities.

The department has specific authority to exchange uplands for certain purposes.  The department has specific authority to exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands under certain conditions for municipal park and playground purposes.  Beyond this, there is no other express authority in statute allowing the department to exchange tidelands and shorelands.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Natural Resources may exchange state-owned tidelands and shorelands with private and other public landowners if the exchange is in the public interest and actively contributes to the public benefits identified in the statutory guidelines for management of aquatic lands.  The department may not exchange state-owned harbor areas or waterways.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Language that conflicts with another statute is removed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This will give the department more flexibility in managing its lands.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  John Woodring, Jack Swanburg, Northwest Marine Trade Assn. (pro); Craig Partridge, DNR (pro).