READ FIRST TIME 02/09/10.   

     AN ACT Relating to eliminating the Columbia River Gorge Compact; adding a new section to chapter 43.97 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to repeal the Columbia River Gorge Compact with the Congress of the United States and the state of Oregon due to the financial constraints facing the state. While the legislature recognizes the importance of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, P.L. 99-963, it finds it can no longer support the financial obligations under this interstate compact. The legislature intends to renegotiate the compact when financial circumstances improve.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 43.97 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The governor's office shall work with the state of Oregon to initiate dissolution of the Columbia River Gorge Compact. If the governor's office determines that the Columbia River Gorge Compact cannot be dissolved, the governor's office shall work to renegotiate with the state of Oregon terms of the Columbia River Gorge Compact that reflects accomplishments made since the first agreement in 1987 and reflects the approved Columbia River Gorge scenic area management plan as of June 2007.
     (2) The governor may also pursue discussions with Klickitat, Skamania, and Clark counties on developing a source of funding to address the costs of local planning and permitting, and to identify local options for implementing the Columbia River Gorge Compact.
     (3) The governor's office shall report to the legislature by December 31, 2010, on the status of dissolving or renegotiating the Columbia River Gorge Compact.