SB 5121 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 1ST SUB)

Intends the airport siting council to site airports that will ensure the long-term air transportation needs of Washington state are met and are in compliance with applicable public health, environmental, and land use laws.

Provides that if the transportation commission finds that all of the following have occurred, it shall declare an impasse and refer the issue to the airport siting council: (1) A regional transportation plan does not satisfactorily address the state's interest as defined in RCW 47.06.040 with respect to planning for transportation needs through siting of an airport;

(2) There has been ample time to address siting of an airport in the regional transportation plan and local comprehensive plans, but either no decision has been reached or the process has resulted in a decision that will not address the state's transportation needs as set forth in RCW 47.06.040;

(3) The department of transportation has sought by all reasonable means to encourage local governments and regional bodies to cooperate in a planning and decision-making process that addresses in a timely manner statewide airport siting needs;

(4) The transportation commission has notified the local governments and regional bodies responsible for the regional transportation plan of its intent to declare an impasse; and

(5) The local governments and regional bodies responsible for the regional transportation plan have failed to show cause within thirty days of such notification that an impasse should not be declared.

Directs the transportation commission to declare an impasse by August 1, 2005, regarding the search for a supplemental airport in the Puget Sound region or replacement for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Requires the airport siting council to convene to make recommendations to the governor whenever the transportation commission passes a resolution declaring that an impasse exists in the siting of an airport of statewide significance, as provided in this act.

Declares that this act supersedes other laws for establishing the location of airports of statewide significance or rules adopted under state law for establishing the location of airports of statewide significance.

Declares that the requirements of this act and rules adopted under it do not supersede the State Environmental Policy Act, the State Clean Air Act, the State Clean Water Act, the Shoreline Management Act, the laws relating to solid and hazardous waste management, and all the related portions of the Washington Administrative Code that implement these environmental laws.

Appropriates the sum of five hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, for the biennium ending June 30, 2007, from the multimodal fund to the department of transportation for the purposes of this act.