SENATE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5694

As Passed Senate, March 16, 2003

Title: An act relating to an integrated permit system.

Brief Description: Creating a pilot project to develop an integrated environmental permit system.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Swecker, Jacobsen, Horn, Doumit, Haugen and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development: 2/19/03, 2/26/03 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means: 3/3/03, 3/6/03 [DP2S].

Passed Senate: 3/16/03, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5694 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators T. Sheldon, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Benton, Hale, Rossi, Schmidt, B. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff: Jack Brummel (786-7428)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5694 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Rossi, Chair; Hewitt, Vice Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Doumit, Fairley, Fraser, Hale, Honeyford, Johnson, Parlette, Poulsen, Regala, Roach, Sheahan, B. Sheldon and Winsley.

Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background: The environmental review and permitting process is controlled by a number of statutes. It has been suggested that the integration of the documentation and procedures needed for agency decisionmaking would streamline the permitting process.

Summary of Bill: By December 1, 2005, the Office of Permit Assistance must develop: (1) a guide for creating a unified project decision support document for state and federal agencies and local governments; (2) recommendations for an integrated permit system to integrate project design, review, permitting, and mitigation; recommendations for legislative changes needed to establish the system; and recommendations for full-scale testing of the system through a pilot project.

Meeting the requirements to develop a guide and recommendations is done through a pilot project of economic development significance. The office must submit reports on its efforts on December 1, 2003, and December 1, 2005.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 16, 2003.

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

Testimony For (Economic Development): Current technology can make the permitting process a lot more effective and efficient. We need ways for agencies to participate in a coordinated fashion.

Testimony Against (Economic Development): None.

Testified (Economic Development): Senator Swecker, prime sponsor (pro); Carl Kassenbaum, CRK Environmental Management (pro); Greg Hueckel, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (pro); Sue Mauermann, Dept. of Ecology (pro); Bryan Wahl, WA Assn. of Realtors (pro); Grant Nelson, AWB (pro); Ron Shultz, Governor's Office (pro).

Testimony For (Ways & Means): None.

Testimony Against (Ways & Means): None.

Testified (Ways & Means): No one.

House Amendment(s): The House amendment adds definitions, an expiration date, and a null and void clause; ensures that public involvement opportunities are maintained or enhanced; and makes clear the integrated permit system will not modify or change any agency's substantive regulatory authority.