BILL REQ. #:  S-1024.1 

Read first time 01/28/09.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to environmental mitigation in highway construction; and adding a new section to chapter 47.01 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     In the process of reviewing and selecting sites to meet highway construction environmental mitigation requirements under the national environmental policy act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) and chapter 43.21C RCW, the department shall, to the greatest extent possible, consider using public land first.
     If public lands are not available that meet the required environmental mitigation needs, the department may use other sites while making every effort to avoid any net loss of agricultural lands that have a designation of long-term commercial significance.