HB 2497 - DIGEST

(SEE ALSO PROPOSED 1ST SUB)

Requires that notification of any significant natural resource-related action undertaken by any state entity must be provided to the legislative authority of any federally recognized Indian tribe that is, or could be, affected by the action.

Applies only to the following state entities: (1) The board of natural resources and the department of natural resources;

(2) The forest practices board;

(3) The department of fish and wildlife and the fish and wildlife commission;

(4) The department of agriculture;

(5) The department of ecology;

(6) The state conservation commission;

(7) The department of transportation; and

(8) The state board of health and the department of health.

Provides that, in adopting rules under this act, the affected agencies are expected to invite the involvement of the appropriate tribal interests in order to determine, at a minimum, how notification may be provided in the most economical and time efficient manner, how the agencies determine which actions are important enough to the tribes to justify notification, and which actions will be viewed as unimportant or administrative by the tribes.