SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 1466

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, March 28, 1997

Title:  An act relating to surface mining.

Brief Description:  Allowing the department of natural resources to delegate some or all of its surface mining enforcement authority to qualified personnel of a county, city, or town.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Sump, Sheldon, Grant, Hatfield, Delvin and Pennington).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  3/27/97, 3/28/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Roach, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Department of Natural Resources administers the state=s surface mining reclamation program.  The department may, by contract, delegate its enforcement authority over provisions in surface mine reclamation plans to local governments.  Currently, the department has one such contract in place with King County. 

The surface mining chapter states that surface mining is an appropriate land use, subject to reclamation authority exercised by the department.

Summary of Bill: The Department of Natural Resources may delegate its enforcement authority if the department believes that the county, city, or town employs personnel who are qualified to enforce reclamation plans approved by the department.

No county, city, or town may require for its review or approval a separate reclamation plan or application.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  This would provide better enforcement and allow local government cooperation with the industry.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Mark Triplett, Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (pro).