Title: An act relating to the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account.

Brief Description: Creating the Hood Canal aquatic rehabilitation account.

Sponsors: House Committee on Select Committee on Hood Canal (originally sponsored by Representatives Eickmeyer, Green, Haigh, Appleton, Kilmer, O'Brien, Lantz, McCoy, Chase, Miloscia, Clibborn and Ormsby).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/11/06, 95-1.

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 2/22/06, 2/24/06 [DP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair, Operating Budget; Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Brandland, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Parlette, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler and Thibaudeau.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senator Pflug.

Staff: Kirstan Arestad (786-7708)

Background: Hood Canal

Hood Canal is a glacier-carved fjord approximately 60 miles in length with approximately 180 miles of shoreline. Portions of Hood Canal have had low-dissolved oxygen concentrations for many years. In 2005, authority was provided to establish aquatic rehabilitation zones (ARZs) for areas whose surrounding marine water bodies pose serious environmental or public health concerns. The first ARZ, known as ARZ One, was created for the watersheds that drain into Hood Canal south of a line projected from Tala Point in Jefferson County to Foulweather Bluff in Kitsap County.

Hood Canal Rehabilitation Program

The Puget Sound Action Team (PSAT) is a state agency that develops and coordinates water quality programs for Puget Sound. The Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) is a group of county and tribal governments established to address water quality problems and natural resource issues in the Hood Canal watershed. The Legislature authorized development of the Hood Canal Rehabilitation Program (HCRP) in ARZ One in 2005. The PSAT is designated as the state lead agency for the HCRP. The HCCC is designated as the HCRP's local management board. The PSAT and HCCC must jointly coordinate a process to prioritize projects, studies, and activities based on the likely value in addressing and resolving Hood Canal's low-dissolved oxygen concentrations.

Summary of Bill: The Hood Canal Aquatic Rehabilitation Account is created in the State Treasury. The account may be used only for programs and projects to protect and restore Hood Canal, including implementing the HCRP.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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

Testimony For: The account is designed and focused for aquatic rehabilitation zones only. Funding will come from a number of different sources. This bill avoids having to seek approval and justify each step.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Representative Eickmeyer, Prime Sponsor.