BILL REQ. #:  H-2208.1 

Read first time 02/21/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     AN ACT Relating to active grazing leases on public lands; amending RCW 77.12.204; and adding a new section to chapter 79.17 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 79.17 RCW under the subchapter heading "exchanges" to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall, before it transfers land with an active grazing lease, conduct and make public an analysis that evaluates the economic impact of the grazing lease on the local economy where the land is located.
     (2) The economic analysis required under this section must consider both the immediate effects of grazing cessation on the land proposed for transfer as well as the commutative effect on the local economy caused by the cessation of grazing on other public lands in the area.
     (3) In conducting the economic analysis required by this section, the department shall assume that the new owner of the land proposed to be transferred will prohibit grazing within ten years after the transfer.
     (4) The department shall conduct at least one public hearing on each economic analysis before it is formally approved by the commissioner. The public hearing must occur in a county where the land is located and the department must invite the county legislative authority for a county where the land is located to jointly participate in the public hearing.
     (5) No land transfer with an active grazing lease may be finalized until the provisions of this section are satisfied.

Sec. 2   RCW 77.12.204 and 2001 c 253 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) If the department purchases, transfers for, leases, or otherwise obtains land with an active grazing lease, it shall:
     (a) Reimburse the holder of the grazing lease for the value of any improvements made by the land by the grazing leaseholder or any predecessors of the grazing leaseholder;
     (b) Allow the grazing leaseholder or his or her designated successors to continue operations under the conditions of the valid lease that existed upon assumption of management authority by the department. Upon the expiration of the grazing lease, and any successive grazing leases, the department must offer the grazing leaseholder or his or her designated successors the option of renewing the grazing lease for the same length and under the same conditions as the grazing lease in effect at the time the department assumed management control of the land.
     (2)(a) The department ((of fish and wildlife)) shall implement practices necessary to meet the standards developed under RCW ((79.01.295)) 79.13.610 on agency-owned and managed agricultural and grazing lands. The standards may be modified on a site-specific basis as necessary and as determined by the department ((of fish and wildlife)) to achieve the goals established under RCW ((79.01.295(1))) 79.13.610(1). Existing lessees shall be provided an opportunity to participate in any site-specific field review. Department agricultural and grazing leases issued after December 31, 1994, shall be subject to practices to achieve the standards that meet those developed pursuant to RCW ((79.01.295)) 79.13.610.
     (b) This section shall in no way prevent the department ((of fish and wildlife)) from managing its lands according to the provisions of RCW 77.04.012, 77.12.210, or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.