5048-S.E AMH WALJ JOND 128

ESSB 5048 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-2540.1/17) 336

By Representative Walsh, J.

ADOPTED 03/30/2017

    On page 131, after line 19, insert the following:

    "(6) (a) The department must submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by October 1, 2017, regarding the status of:

    (i)    The development of a supplemental environmental impact statement that builds upon the April, 2015 publication: Final Environmental Impact Statement Control of Burrowing Shrimp Using Imidacloprid on Commercial Oyster and Clam Beds in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor, Washington, published by the department; and

    (ii)   The issuance of a general national pollutant discharge elimination system waste discharge permit allowing the use of Imidacloprid to control burrowing shrimp;

    (b) If the Department of Ecology has not completed the supplemental environmental impact statement in (a)(i) by May 31, 2017 or issued the general permit under (a) (ii) by June 30, 2017, the report to the legislature required by (a) must include a description of the status of the supplemental environmental impact statement and general permit, and a detailed description of steps to be undertaken by the department to ensure that the supplemental environmental impact statement has been completed and the general permit has been issued in time to allow oyster growers to rely on the general permit during the 2018 season, or of the steps to be undertaken by the department to ensure that another equally viable and economically feasible option for the control of burrowing shrimp is available to oyster growers in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor for use during the 2018 growing season."

EFFECT:   Requires the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to report on the status of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and general permit on the use of Imidacloprid to control burrowing shrimp. If the SEIS or general permit have not been completed by a certain time, Ecology must report on their status and steps to be taken to complete them by the 2018 oyster growing season.

FISCAL IMPACT: No net change to appropriated levels.

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