SENATE BILL REPORT

                  HJM 4017

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development, February 15, 1996

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.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development:  3/29/95 [DP]; 2/15/96 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & AGRICULTURAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; Bauer, Morton, Newhouse and Snyder.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Federal Noxious Weed Act of 1974 as amended directs each federal agency to establish and adequately fund 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, for such weeds to be controlled at the owner's expense.

Summary of Bill:  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 nonnative noxious weeds in this state.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  The federal agencies need to follow federal law and control weeds.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Thompson, prime sponsor.