SB 5915-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTITUTE)

     Declares an intent that this act improve the scientific basis for making decisions in site selection for wetlands mitigation projects, and further intends that this act maximize the cost-effectiveness of public and private investment in compensatory wetland mitigation projects.

     Finds that recent studies of the effectiveness of compensatory wetland mitigation projects show that over seventy percent are failing.  The principal reasons stem from failure during the permitting process to adequately investigate the practical relationships between the proposed project and the local water resources that will be associated with it.

     Finds that, frequently, the original wetland functioned better than the mitigated wetland, such that a net loss of wetland area and functions frequently occurs in spite of the mitigation project.

     Directs the department of ecology to review wetlands compensatory mitigation projects and evaluate the adequacy of hydrological information presented by a project proponent to determine the likelihood of success of the project.