H‑0519.1   _____________________________________________

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4401

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Representatives Rockefeller, Woods, Hunt and Lantz

Read first time 01/15/2001.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

_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                      HCR 4401

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

_2  agencies regarding derelict vessels, and to develop

_3  recommendations for the disposal and for funding the disposal of

_4  derelict vessels; and

_5      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of eight

_6  members, four members selected by the President of the Senate,

_7  with two members from each of the two major political parties; and

_8  four members selected by the Co-Speakers of the House of

_9  Representatives, with two members appointed by each Co-Speaker;

10  and

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

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

13  senate committee services; and

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

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

‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑

HCR 4401                       p. 2