HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4032

                    As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Regarding salmon and steelhead under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Sponsors:  Representatives Buck, Butler, Chandler, DeBolt, Sehlin, Hatfield, McCune, Doumit, Kessler, Zellinsky and Thompson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  1/27/98, 2/4/98 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/11/98, 96-0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Buck, Chairman; Sump, Vice Chairman; Thompson, Vice Chairman; Regala, Ranking Minority Member; Butler, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Alexander; Anderson; Eickmeyer; Hatfield and Pennington.

Staff:  Carole Richmond (786-7114).

Background:  The listings of salmon and steelhead under the federal Endangered Species Act are expected to have significant economic impacts on the people of the state of Washington.  The state is expected to develop recovery plans for these listed species.  Because salmon spend most of their lives outside of waters controlled by the State, federal actions are critical to ensuring the success of salmon recovery efforts in Washington state.

Summary of Bill:  The President and the Congress of the United States are petitioned to:

(1)Immediately resolve the United States-Canada fishing dispute;

(2)Enforce the 200-mile limit and the ban on high seas drift net fishing; and

(3)Provide funding for salmon recovery efforts which mitigate the loss of habitat caused by the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  The majority of the salmon life cycle is spent outside of state waters.  The federal government has a critical role to play in recovery efforts for salmon.  Because of the cutbacks in federal funding for salmon restoration, the state should develop a comprehensive funding strategy.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ron Shultz, National Audubon Society.