VETO MESSAGE ON HB 2050-S

                   May 20, 1997

To the Honorable Speaker and Members,

  The House of Representatives of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval, Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2050 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to determining the impairment of water rights and uses;"

     Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2050 would set standards and criteria for determining impairment due to hydraulic continuity between ground and surface water.  Hydrogeologists disagree about the bill's proposed methods and express concerns that if implemented, existing water uses could be negatively impacted.  Ultimately, we do need a better definition of impairment, but this bill doesn't provide the answers we need.

     For these reasons, I have vetoed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2050 in its entirety.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Gary Locke

                   Governor