SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1862

BYHouse Committee on Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Cole, Winsley, Sayan, Basich, Scott, Holland, Lux, Wineberry, Belcher, Nutley, Walker, Valle, Haugen, Dorn, Locke, Spanel, Anderson, K. Wilson, Jacobsen, Brekke, Nelson, Leonard and Fisher)

Providing for plans for the use of local beaches.

House Committe on Natural Resources

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 23, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7717)

                  February 24, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 23, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Certain portions of the state's ocean beaches are designated as public highways.  In 1967 the Legislature passed the Seashore Conservation Act which called for the State Parks and Recreation Commission to develop reasonable regulations for the use and control of vehicular traffic on and along the ocean beach highways. 

In 1972 the commission adopted regulations to temporarily close portions of the ocean beaches to vehicular traffic.  In 1976 the commission adopted regulations to permanently close portions of the ocean beaches to vehicles.

In 1980 the State Supreme Court ruled that the commission did not have the authority to permanently close any portion of the ocean beaches to vehicular traffic. 

SUMMARY:

Recreation management plans are to be developed by local governments and approved by the commission for those portions of ocean beaches currently designated as public highways.  The plans must reserve at least forty percent of these ocean beaches to pedestrian use between April 15 and the day after Labor Day.

Vehicular use in areas reserved for pedestrian use may occur only to facilitate clam digging, certain organized events, wood removal, and sand removal.

The commission may require recreation management plans to permanently restrict vehicular use in areas adjoining national wildlife refuges or state parks.  Such closures may be included as part of a plan's requirement for forty percent pedestrian use of ocean beaches.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: James J. Higgins, Citizen (for); Jan Tveten, State Parks (for); Dave Wolfenbarger (for); Pam Davis, Audubon (for); Nabiel Shawa, City of Long Beach (for); Virginia Leach, Long Beach Merchants (for); Kaye Mulvey, Beachdriving Committee (for); Bob Paylor, Grays Harbor County (for); Patrick Cohn, Mountaineers (for); Mayor Harold L. Hardy, City of Westport (for); Chris Platt, Sierra Club (for)