H-4070.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2306

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Carrell, Chandler, Koster, Talcott, Smith, Honeyford, Mulliken, Johnson, Hatfield and Beeksma

Read first time 01/09/96.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Creating a Washington state lake health plan.

     AN ACT Relating to noxious aquatic weeds; adding new sections to chapter 90.48 RCW; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  Until the department of ecology can assume full financial responsibility to maintain the water quality and treat nuisance weeds and algae in Washington state lakes, shoreline property owners may use any federally approved herbicide following label application requirements for control of nuisance weeds.  The treatment of lake waters by licensed pesticide applicators with federally approved herbicides and algicides following federal label application requirements is not considered pollution.  The department of ecology using existing department personnel and resources must develop a general long-term plan to maintain lake health and must allow weed algae treatment until a plan is completed, funded, and implemented.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  Solutions to lake weed and algae problems must be long term and the use of herbicides is allowed following federal label application requirements for the long-term period of up to ten years while plans and funding for a permanent solution are being secured by the department of ecology.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  There is created a committee to develop a Washington state lake health plan.  The committee shall submit the plan to the legislature by December 1, 1997.  The committee shall consist of the chair and ranking minority member of the senate agriculture and agricultural trade and development, ecology and parks, and government operations committees, and the house of representatives agriculture and ecology, natural resources, and government operations committees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  Sections 1 and 2 of this act are each added to chapter 90.48 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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