BILL REQ. #:  S-3574.2 

Read first time 01/09/2006.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation.

     AN ACT Relating to derelict or abandoned vessels; amending RCW 79.100.010, 79.100.040, 79.100.060, and 79.100.100; adding new sections to chapter 79.100 RCW; repealing RCW 79.100.090; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 79.100 RCW to read as follows:
     A person who causes a vessel to become abandoned or derelict upon aquatic lands is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Sec. 2   RCW 79.100.010 and 2002 c 286 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Abandoned vessel" means the vessel's owner is not known or cannot be located, or if the vessel's owner is known and located but is unwilling to take control of the vessel, and the vessel has been left, moored, or anchored in the same area without the express consent, or contrary to the rules, of the owner, manager, or lessee of the aquatic lands below or on which the vessel is located for either a period of more than thirty consecutive days or for more than a total of ninety days in any three hundred sixty-five day period. For the purposes of this subsection (1) only, "in the same area" means within a radius of five miles of any location where the vessel was previously moored or anchored on aquatic lands.
     (2) "Aquatic lands" means all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters, including lands owned by the state and lands owned by other public or private entities.
     (3) "Authorized public entity" includes any of the following: The department of natural resources; the department of fish and wildlife; the parks and recreation commission; a metropolitan park district; a port district; and any city, town, or county with ownership, management, or jurisdiction over the aquatic lands where an abandoned or derelict vessel is located.
     (4) "Department" means the department of natural resources.
     (5) "Derelict vessel" means the vessel's owner is known and can be located, and exerts control of a vessel that:
     (a) Has been moored, anchored, or otherwise left in the waters of the state or on public property contrary to RCW ((79.01.760)) 79.02.300 or rules adopted by an authorized public entity;
     (b) Has been left on private property without authorization of the owner; or
     (c) Has been left for a period of seven consecutive days, and:
     (i) Is sunk or in danger of sinking;
     (ii) Is obstructing a waterway; or
     (iii) Is endangering life or property.
     (6) "Owner" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, government entity, or organization that has a lawful right to possession of a vessel by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal action whether or not the vessel is subject to a security interest.
     (7) "Vessel" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 53.08.310.

Sec. 3   RCW 79.100.040 and 2002 c 286 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Prior to exercising the authority granted in RCW 79.100.030, the authorized public entity must first obtain custody of the vessel. To do so, the authorized public entity must:
     (a) Mail notice of its intent to obtain custody, at least twenty days prior to taking custody, to the last known address of the previous owner to register the vessel in any state or with the federal government and to any lien holders or secured interests on record. A notice need not be sent to the purported owner or any other person whose interest in the vessel is not recorded with a state or federal agency;
     (b) Post notice of its intent clearly on the vessel for thirty days and publish its intent at least once, more than ten days but less than twenty days prior to taking custody, in a newspaper of general circulation for the county in which the vessel is located; and
     (c) Post notice of its intent on the department's internet web site on a page specifically designated for such notices. If the authorized public entity is not the department, the department must facilitate the internet posting.
     (2) All notices sent, posted, or published in accordance with this section must, at a minimum, explain the intent of the authorized public entity to take custody of the vessel, the rights of the authorized public entity after taking custody of the vessel as provided in RCW 79.100.030, the procedures the owner must follow in order to avoid custody being taken by the authorized public entity, the procedures the owner must follow in order to reclaim possession after custody is taken by the authorized public entity, and the financial liabilities that the owner may incur as provided for in RCW 79.100.060.
     (3) If a vessel is in immediate danger of sinking, breaking up, or blocking navigational channels, and the owner of the vessel cannot be located or is unwilling or unable to assume immediate responsibility for the vessel, ((an)) any authorized public entity may tow, beach, or otherwise take temporary possession of the vessel. Before taking temporary possession of the vessel, the authorized public entity must make reasonable attempts to consult with the department ((and)) or the United States coast guard to ensure that other remedies are not available. The basis for taking temporary possession of the vessel must be set out in writing by the authorized public entity within seven days of taking action and be submitted to the owner, if known, as soon thereafter as is reasonable. If the authorized public entity has not already provided the required notice, immediately after taking possession of the vessel, the authorized public entity must initiate the notice provisions in subsection (1) of this section. The authorized public entity must complete the notice requirements of subsection (1) of this section before using or disposing of the vessel as authorized in RCW 79.100.050.

Sec. 4   RCW 79.100.060 and 2002 c 286 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The owner of an abandoned or derelict vessel is responsible for reimbursing an authorized public entity for all reasonable and auditable costs associated with the removal or disposal of the owner's vessel under this chapter. These costs include, but are not limited to, costs incurred exercising the authority granted in RCW 79.100.030, all administrative costs incurred by the authorized public entity during the procedure set forth in RCW 79.100.040, removal and disposal costs, and costs associated with environmental damages directly or indirectly caused by the vessel. An authorized public entity that has taken temporary possession of a vessel may require that all reasonable and auditable costs associated with the removal of the vessel be paid before the vessel is released to the owner.
     (2) Reimbursement for costs may be sought from an owner who is identified subsequent to the vessel's removal and disposal.
     (3) If the full amount of all costs due to the authorized public entity under this chapter is not paid to the authorized public entity within thirty days after first notifying the responsible parties of the amounts owed, the authorized public entity or the department may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the costs, plus reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred by the authorized public entity.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   A new section is added to chapter 79.100 RCW to read as follows:
     The owner of a vessel may request a hearing with the department to contest an authorized public entity's decision to take temporary possession or custody of the vessel or to contest the amount of reimbursement owed to an authorized public entity. A written request for a hearing with the department must be filed with the aquatic resources division of the department within twenty days of the date the authorized public entity acquires custody of the vessel under RCW 79.100.040, or if the vessel is redeemed before the authorized public entity acquires custody, the date of redemption, or the right to a hearing is deemed waived and the vessel's owner is liable for any costs owed the authorized public entity. In the event of litigation, the prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
     Upon receipt of a timely hearing request, the department shall proceed to hear and determine the validity of the decision to take the vessel into temporary possession or custody and the reasonableness of any towing, storage, or other charges permitted under this chapter. Within five business days after the request for a hearing is filed, the department shall notify the vessel owner requesting the hearing and the authorized public entity of the date, time, and location for the hearing. Unless the vessel is redeemed before the request for hearing is filed, the department shall set the hearing on a date that is within ten business days of the filing of the request for hearing. If the vessel is redeemed before the request for a hearing is filed, the department shall set the hearing on a date that is within sixty days of the filing of the request for hearing.

Sec. 6   RCW 79.100.100 and 2002 c 286 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The derelict vessel removal account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from RCW 79.100.050 and 79.100.060 and those moneys specified in RCW 88.02.030 and 88.02.050 must be deposited into the account. The account is authorized to receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of this chapter and expend the same or any income according to the terms of the gifts, grants, or endowments provided those terms do not conflict with any provisions of this section or any guidelines developed to prioritize reimbursement of removal projects associated with this chapter. Moneys in the account may only be spent after appropriation. Expenditures from the account shall be used by the department to reimburse authorized public entities for ((seventy-five)) up to ninety percent of the total reasonable and auditable administrative, removal, disposal, and environmental damage costs of abandoned or derelict vessels when the previous owner is either unknown after a reasonable search effort or insolvent. ((During the 2001-2003 biennium, up to forty percent of the expenditures from the account may be used for administrative expenses of the department of licensing and department of natural resources in implementing this chapter.)) Costs associated with removal and disposal of an abandoned or derelict vessel under the authority granted in RCW 53.08.320 also qualify for reimbursement from the derelict vessel removal account. In each ((subsequent)) biennium, up to twenty percent of the expenditures from the account may be used for administrative expenses of the department of licensing and department of natural resources in implementing this chapter.
     (2) If the balance of the account reaches one million dollars as of March 1st of any year, the department must notify the department of licensing and the collection of any fees associated with this account must be suspended for the following fiscal year.
     (3) Priority for use of this account is for the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels that are in danger of sinking, breaking up, or blocking navigation channels, or that present environmental risks such as leaking fuel or other hazardous substances. The department must develop criteria, in the form of informal guidelines, to prioritize removal projects associated with this chapter, but may not consider whether the applicant is a state or local entity when prioritizing. The guidelines must also include guidance to the authorized public entities as to what removal activities and associated costs are reasonable and eligible for reimbursement.
     (4) The department must keep all authorized public entities apprized of the balance of the derelict vessel removal account and the funds available for reimbursement. The guidelines developed by the department must also be made available to the other authorized public entities. This subsection (4) must be satisfied by utilizing the least costly method, including maintaining the information on the department's internet web site, or any other cost-effective method.
     (5) An authorized public entity may contribute its ((twenty-five)) ten percent of costs that are not eligible for reimbursement by using in-kind services, including the use of existing staff, equipment, and volunteers.
     (6) This chapter does not guarantee reimbursement for an authorized public entity. Authorized public entities seeking certainty in reimbursement prior to taking action under this chapter may first notify the department of their proposed action and the estimated total costs. Upon notification by an authorized public entity, the department must make the authorized public entity aware of the status of the fund and the likelihood of reimbursement being available. The department may offer technical assistance and assure reimbursement for up to two years following the removal action if an assurance is appropriate given the balance of the fund and the details of the proposed action.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   RCW 79.100.090 (Contest custody/reimbursement -- Lawsuit) and 2002 c 286 s 10 are each repealed.