H‑1757.1   _____________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4401

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By House Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Rockefeller, Woods, Hunt and Lantz)

READ FIRST TIME 02/19/01. 

_1      WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes that there has been an

_2  increase in the number of derelict vessels that have been

_3  abandoned by their owners and that are either grounded or anchored

_4  upon state-owned aquatic lands; and

_5      WHEREAS, These vessels often pose hazards to navigation, and

_6  threaten the environment with the potential release of hazardous

_7  materials; and

_8      WHEREAS, The legislature finds that the solution used by the

_9  United States coast guard and the army corps of engineers of

10  sinking derelict vessels into deep water can still result in the

11  release of hazardous materials and can also disrupt the natural

12  structure of bedlands; and

13      WHEREAS, The legislature further finds that the costs

14  associated with the disposal of derelict vessels are very high,

15  and that there is generally no way to track down the vessel owners

16  in order to seek compensation;

17      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives

18  of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That a joint

19  select committee on the disposal of derelict vessels be

20  established to review the current duties and responsibilities of

                               p. 1                     SHCR 4401

_1  vessel owners, the department of natural resources, and federal

_2  agencies regarding derelict vessels; to develop recommendations on

_3  measures that may help prevent the abandonment of derelict

_4  vessels; to develop recommendations for the disposal and for

_5  funding the disposal of derelict vessels; and

_6      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of eight

_7  members, four members selected by the President of the Senate,

_8  with two members from each of the two major political parties; and

_9  four members selected by the Co-Speakers of the House of

10  Representatives, with two members appointed by each Co-Speaker;

11  and

12      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consult with

13  representatives of public ports, cities, counties, the department

14  of natural resources, the department of ecology, the department of

15  health, the Puget Sound water quality action team, the office of

16  the attorney general, owners of private marinas, the commercial

17  fishing industry, sport fishers, recreational boaters,

18  environmental organizations, the appropriate federal agencies, and

19  other interested groups in developing the recommendations; and

20      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the staffing for the joint select

21  committee be provided by the house office of program research and

22  senate committee services; and

23      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings

24  and recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 2002.

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SHCR 4401                      p. 2