FINAL BILL REPORT
SSB 6805
C 133 L 08
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Promoting farm and forest land preservation and restoration through conservation markets.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators Haugen, Rasmussen, McAuliffe, Kline and Kohl-Welles).
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources
House Committee on Appropriations
Background: Often agencies have environmental mitigation and compliance requirements
associated with permitting processes for the construction of public projects such as highways or
private projects. Interest exists in enhancing or restoring fish and wildlife habitat, planting
riparian areas, dispersing flood waters, providing water filtration, or providing other
environmental benefits.
Interest is expanding in the use of conservation markets that award various types of environmental
mitigation credits for projects that enhance habitat or other environmental values. This system
of credits allows those public or private entities that need or want credits to purchase the credits
from those who are awarded credits for projects that provide the enhancement. This option uses
market forces to provide incentives to provide these environmental benefits through a system of
credits. Interest exists in examining the use of conservation markets in a way that takes advantage
of environmental enhancement opportunities that exist on farms and small forestry operations,
but that also improve the viability of these operations, without taking whole farms or significant
amounts of land out of production.
Summary: The State Conservation Commission (Commission) is directed to conduct a study on the feasibility and desirability of establishing farm and forestry-based conservation markets in Washington State. To carry out this study, the Commission may enter into a contract with an entity that has knowledge and experience in agriculture and of conservation markets. The study would include:
The Commission is to present its findings and recommendations on the conservation markets
study to the Governor and the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 2008.
If the study determines that conservation markets are feasible and desirable, the Commission must
conduct two demonstration projects. To be chosen as a demonstration project area, there needs
to be:
If the project proceeds to the demonstration project phase, the Commission is to report it findings and recommendations to the Governor and the appropriate committees of the Legislature by December 1, 2009.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate 48 0
House 96 0 (House amended)
Senate 47 0 (Senate concurred)
Effective: June 12, 2008