Background: Marine Management Planning. In 2010 the Legislature passed SSB 6350, which established a process for marine management planning in Washington. The bill created the Marine Interagency Team (team), consisting of the Governor's Office and natural resources agencies with jurisdiction over marine issues. The team was initially tasked with, and has completed, an assessment of existing marine planning efforts in the state and a recommended framework for integrating marine spatial planning into management planning efforts.

Subject to federal, private, or other nonstate funding, the Legislature also directed the team to coordinate development of a comprehensive marine management plan for the state's marine waters. The team may develop the plan in geographic segments, and may incorporate elements from an existing plan. Elements of the plan include:

an ecosystem assessment that analyzes the health and status of marine waters;
a series of maps providing information on the marine ecosystem, human uses of marine waters, and areas with high potential for renewable energy production and low potential for conflicts with existing uses and sensitive environments;
recommendations to the federal government for use priorities and limitations within the Exclusive Economic Zone; and
a strategy for plan implementation using existing state and local authorities.

The team has two years to complete the plan once it initiates the planning process. In developing the plan, the team must seek input from specified stakeholders. The marine management plan many not affect any project, use, or activity existing prior to completion of the plan. Upon completion, the director of the Department of Ecology must submit the plan to the federal government for review, approval, and inclusion in the state's Coastal Zone Management Plan.

The 2010 bill created a dedicated account, the Marine Resources Stewardship Trust Account (MRSTA), to fund marine management planning and associated activities.

Revenues from State-Owned Aquatic Lands. When the state receives revenue from state-owned aquatic lands, funds are first distributed to the Resource Management Cost Account (RMCA) for the Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) management costs and for any payments owed to towns. The remainder of the revenue is deposited into the Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account (ALEA), which is generally used for purposes such as aquatic lands enhancement projects, protection of aquatic lands for public purposes, and providing and improving access to aquatic lands.

Summary of Bill: Modifies Marine Management Planning Authorities. The statutes governing the marine management planning process are modified to:

specifically authorize the team to develop the comprehensive marine management plan in geographic segments, moving forward with plans for geographic areas on different schedules;
remove the requirement that the comprehensive marine management plan be completed within two years of the plan initiation; and
remove the requirement that the availability of nonstate funding be a prerequisite to initiating the comprehensive planning process and other specified relevant actions.

Provides Funding for Marine Management Planning Using Revenue from State-Owned Aquatic Lands. A portion of revenue from state-owned aquatic lands must be deposited in MRSTA prior to being distributed to RMCA, as payments to towns, and to ALEA. Until July 1, 2016, MRSTA receives 4 percent of these revenues. After July 1, 2016, the amount is 2 percent.

Until July 1, 2016, the permissible uses of funding from the MRSTA are temporarily narrowed to:

ecosystem assessments and mapping activities, with a focus on those that relate to marine resource uses and the development of potential economic opportunities;
development of a marine management plan for the outer coast; and
coordination of regional marine waters planning activities.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The state is going through tough economic times, and preparation for marine spatial planning is preparation for the future. The planning process can help protect existing uses and address marine user conflicts. Coastal communities should have a direct voice in the process. Coastal Marine Resources Committees are already beginning to engage in some of this work. The outer coast is ready to proceed with the planning process, and this bill would allow them to move ahead. The planning process must account for local needs, but must be sure to consider the broader impacts of any actions.

OTHER: While supportive of the policy in the bill, there are concerns about using funds that would otherwise got to the DNR's management account to fund the planning work.