Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee

HB 1894

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Creates the Shellfish Aquaculture Public Information Center through the University of Washington's Sea Grant Program (Sea Grant) to, among other things, serve as a single point of contact for the public regarding aquaculture permitting issues, questions about violations, and debris cleanup.
Continues and expands the current geoduck research being done by the Sea Grant using the existing model with changes that make clear that the research scope belongs to Sea Grant and that the citizen committee is just advisory in nature.
Reconstitutes the Shellfish Regulatory Advisory Committee with a new name (removing “regulatory”) and a new mission scope (limited to just advising the Sea Grant research and not interacting with the Department of Ecology in regards to shoreline management guidelines).

Background:

Geoduck Research.

The Sea Grant Program at the University of Washington (Sea Grant) was directed in 2007 to initiate a research initiative to review the potential effects of geoduck aquaculture on the environment. A list of required study elements were provided to the Sea Grant, which included studies evaluating the structures used in geoduck aquaculture, the effects of harvesting techniques, how aquaculture impacts natural ecological characteristics, and research into the genetic interactions between farm raised and naturally occurring geoduck. The Sea Grant, with consultation of an oversight committee, can prioritize the listed studies and add or subtract to the listed studies as necessary.

The Geoduck Aquaculture Research Account (Account) was created to fund the required research and to accept legislative appropriations and private donations. Any institution involved in research funded from the Account may not retain more than 15 percent of any funding for administrative overhead. The final report of the research is scheduled to be delivered to the Legislature by December 1, 2013.

Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee.

The Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee (SRAC) was formed in 2007 to serve as the oversight committee for the research conducted by the Sea Grant, to develop recommendations for a regulatory system or permit process that integrates local, state, and federal regulations, and to develop recommendations for appropriate guidelines for the Department of Ecology (Department) to include in shorelines master program guidelines.

The members of the SRAC were appointed by the director of the Department and included state agency representatives, tribal invitees, members of the environmental community, shellfish growers, and property owners. The SRAC concluded its change of work and has since been disbanded by the Department.

Summary of Bill:

Shellfish Aquaculture Public Information Center.

The Sea Grant Program at the University of Washington (Sea Grant) is required to establish a shellfish aquaculture public information center. A list of potential services for the public may include:

the development of repository of information on sustainable shellfish aquaculture practices;
providing technical assistance regarding sustainable shellfish aquaculture and regulation compliance;
serving as a single point of contact for the public regarding questions about shellfish aquaculture;
liaising with state and county government in seeking to resolve citizen questions and concerns;
seeking federal funding for shellfish aquaculture research and development; and
serving as a point of contact in efforts to address derelict shellfish aquaculture sites.

Sea Grant Geoduck Research.

Express intent is provided for the Sea Grant geoduck research currently underway to be continued beyond its current scope of work and expanded to include research relevant to all shellfish aquaculture. The existing direction as to the study process is retained, except that direction is given to coordinate research with other research being done by the University of Washington on ocean acidification.

The relationship between the Sea Grant research and a reconstituted SRAC is clarified. The SRAC is renamed to remove the word "regulatory" from its title and its scope is limited to being a steering committee to the Sea Grant on its geoduck research. The membership composition of the SRAC is unchanged.

The Geoduck Aquaculture Research Account is renamed the Shellfish Aquaculture Research Account.