SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6329

As Passed Senate, February 16, 2004

Title: An act relating to extending the date for ballast water discharge implementation.

Brief Description: Extending the date for implementation of ballast water discharge requirements.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Parks, Fish & Wildlife (originally sponsored by Senator Oke).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Parks, Fish & Wildlife: 1/27/04, 2/3/04 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 2/16/04, 26-22.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON PARKS, FISH & WILDLIFE

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6329 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Sheahan, Vice Chair; Doumit, Jacobsen, Morton and Swecker.

Staff: Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background: The Department of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to implement a ballast water management program. The program enters ballast water reporting data, evaluates the vessel exchanges and compliance with the state's requirements and assesses ballast treatment systems. Discharge into waters of the state of Washington are authorized if a vessel has conducted an open sea exchange of ballast water.

A ballast water task force is currently working on recommendations to the Legislature regarding ballast water treatment programs for the state of Washington.

Summary of Bill: The date for required treatment of ballast water is changed from July 1, 2004, to July 1, 2007. The ballast water work group is expanded to include the Department of Fish and Wildlife as a member. Staff is provided by the Puget Sound water quality action team. The report is due in 2006.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: The technology for full ballast water treatment or exchange systems is not ready for full implementation and the United States Coast Guard and other groups are working on a program which is broader than the state program.

Testimony Against: The shipping industry needs to demonstrate that they are trying to find solutions to the problem. More reporting and funding is needed.

Testified: PRO: Greg Hanon, Western States Petroleum Assn.; Rick Wickman, Columbia River Shippers; Mike Moore, Puget Sound Ship Operators; Kevin Reynolds, James Winton, United States Geological Service; CONCERNS: Jim Jeserning, Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers; Scott Smith, Department of Fish and Wildlife; CON: Rick Affett Trout Unlimited; Gerald Joyce, Audubon Society; Bill Robinson, The Nature Conservancy.

House Amendment(s): The House amendment modifies the date for authorizing discharge of ballast water into waters of the state from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2007.

It extends the ballast water work group to June 30, 2007, adds representatives from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the shellfish industry, tribes, and maritime labor to the work group, and requires a report to the Legislature by December 15, 2006.

The House amendment requires masters, owners, operators or persons-in-charge to submit to the department an interim ballast water management report by July 1, 2006, describing actions needed to implement ballast water requirements.