SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2383

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

   Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation, February 23, 2000

Title:  An act relating to aquatic nuisance species.

Brief Description:  Creating the aquatic nuisance species committee.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Regala, G. Chandler, Anderson, Linville, Fisher, Scott, Kenney, Lovick, Haigh, Lantz, Wood, Santos, Edmonds and Ogden).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation:  2/23/2000 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & RECREATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators Jacobsen, Chair; T. Sheldon, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Morton, Oke, Rossi, Snyder, Spanel and Stevens.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Zebra Mussel and European Green Crab Task Force, created by the Legislature during the 1998 session, recommended the creation of an aquatic nuisance species committee as its highest priority in its report to the Legislature.  The Legislature provided some funding in the 1999 operating budget for such a committee, but did not enact legislation establishing such a committee.

Summary of Amended Bill:  An Aquatic Nuisance Species Committee is created to foster state, federal, tribal, and private cooperation on aquatic nuisance species issues.  The committee is directed to give special emphasis to preventing the introduction and spread of aquatic nuisance species.

Membership of the committee consists of representatives of the Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Ecology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team, State Patrol, State Noxious Weed Control Board, and the Washington Sea Grant Program.  The committee must solicit participation by federally recognized Indian tribes, federal agencies, Washington conservation organizations, environmental groups, and representatives from industries that may either be affected by the introduction of an aquatic nuisance species or that may serve as a pathway for their introduction.

The committee has several responsibilities that it must accomplish through the authority and cooperation of its member agencies.  These responsibilities include:  periodically revising the state aquatic nuisance species management plan; developing recommendations to the Legislature on statutory provisions for classifying and regulating aquatic nuisance species; recommending to the State Noxious Weed Control Board that a plant be classified as an aquatic noxious weed; coordinating education, research, regulatory authorities, and monitoring and control programs; participating in regional and national efforts regarding aquatic nuisance species; and consulting with representatives of different industries and activities that may serve as a pathway for introduction of these species, in order to develop strategies to minimize the risk of new introductions.

The committee must prepare a biennial report, listing its accomplishments and making recommendations for improvements for accomplishing its objectives, to the Legislature beginning December 1, 2001.

Amended Bill Compared to Substitute Bill:  Environmental groups are added to the participating groups.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Invasive aquatic species cause serious environmental and economic problems and an advisory committee would help the Department of Fish and Wildlife work on the issue.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Scott Smith, Department of Fish and Wildlife (pro).