SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5684

As of February 9, 2001

Title:  An act relating to legislative approval of shoreline guidelines.

Brief Description:  Requiring legislative approval of shoreline guidelines.

Sponsors:  Senators T. Sheldon, Stevens, Roach, Rasmussen, Morton, Hargrove, Snyder, McCaslin, Honeyford, Oke, Hewitt and Hale.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines: 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, PARKS & SHORELINES

Staff:  Vic Moon (786‑7326)

Background:  The Shoreline Management Act of Washington was passed by the Legislature as an alternative to an initiative and was approved by the voters in November 1972.  It took local governments approximately five years to develop the local government standards based on the shoreline guidelines adopted by the Department of Ecology.

In 1995, the Shoreline Management Act was substantially amended by the Regulatory Reform Act.  The policy of the Legislature was to provide integration between the Shoreline Management Act, State Environmental Policy Act and the Growth Management Act and to require that the Department of Ecology improve oversight over the Shoreline Management Act.  The Department of Ecology was required to update master program guidelines every five years.  In addition, the appeals of master program revisions for those jurisdictions under the state=s Growth Management Act were to go to the Growth Management Hearings Board, rather than the Shoreline Hearings Board.

In 1999, the Department of Ecology offered its first new master program guidelines.  The department held nine hearings and elected to make substantial changes to the original draft.  From 1999 to February 2000, the Department of Ecology sought review of the new draft rule.

The department held hearings throughout the state on the new guidelines and the director signed the new master program guidelines in November 2000.  The guidelines went into effect December 2000.

Summary of Bill:  The Legislature must approve guidelines adopted by the Department of Ecology under the authority of the Shorelines Management Act.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 8, 2001.

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