HB 1658-S2.E - DIGEST
(DIGEST AS ENACTED)
Directs the department to initiate a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility and potential of intensively culturing shellfish on currently nonproductive oyster reserve land in Puget Sound.
Requires the department to enter into no fewer than three long-term lease agreements with commercial shellfish growers.
Directs the department to form one advisory committee each for the Willapa Bay oyster reserve lands and the Puget Sound oyster reserve lands.
Requires the department to submit a brief progress report on the status of the pilot programs to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature by January 7, 2003.
Declares that the Puget Sound pilot program shall not include the culture of geoduck.
Creates the oyster reserve land account in the state treasury. All receipts from revenues from the lease of land or sale of shellfish from oyster reserve lands must be deposited into the account.
Provides that funds in the account shall be used for the purposes provided for in this act: (1) Up to forty percent for the management expenses incurred by the department that are directly attributable to the management of the oyster reserve lands and for the expenses associated with new research and development activities at the Pt. Whitney and Nahcotta shellfish laboratories managed by the department. As used in this subsection, "new research and development activities" includes an emphasis on the control of aquatic nuisance species and burrowing shrimp;
(2) Up to ten percent may be deposited into the state general fund; and
(3) All remaining funds in the account shall be used for the shellfish - on-site sewage grant program established in this act.
Requires the action team to establish a shellfish - on-site sewage grant program in Puget Sound and for Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. The action team shall provide funds to local health jurisdictions to be used as grants to individuals for improving their on-site sewage systems.