SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2674
BYRepresentatives G. Fisher, Hine, Brough, R. Fisher, Heavey, Brumsickle, R. Meyers, Rector, Belcher, Prentice, Todd, Valle, Crane, Inslee, Locke, Cooper, Walker, Nelson, P. King, Ferguson, Jacobsen, Dellwo, Forner, Wineberry, Betrozoff and McLean
Creating the Air Transportation Commission.
House Committe on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation
Senate Hearing Date(s):
Senate Staff:Cathy Mayo (786-7304)
AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 1990
BACKGROUND:
A number of studies have been commissioned in recent years to review and make recommendations relative to current air traffic problems and airport needs, aircraft noise abatement, air carrier systems, and long-range regional airport planning. There is a concern that such studies will not be utilized to the maximum if there is not a centralized commission established to coordinate and utilize all of the data that is being compiled by each study and make policy recommendations.
SUMMARY:
Concerns about the environmental and health impacts of air traffic are increasing with the air traffic operations in the Puget Sound area. The Legislature recognizes the need for improved coordination of local, federal and state efforts to develop a statewide air transportation policy.
The Air Transportation Commission, composed of 21 voting members is created. The Governor shall appoint 18 members as follows: four elected city officials, with at least one from a small city or town and one from a large city which is involved in a regional airport system study; four elected county officials, with at least one from a small county affected by air traffic problems, and one from a large county that is involved in a regional airport system study; two citizens, one representing the east and the other the west side of the state; two representatives of the air industry; two representatives of ports, one from a class A county; the Governor or designee; a member of the Sea-Tac noise mediation project; a member of an eastern Washington metropolitan planning organization; and a member of a western Washington metropolitan planning organization. The remaining three members shall be the Secretary of Transportation or a designee; the Assistant Secretary of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation; and the Director of the Washington State Transportation Center. The Chair of the Legislative Transportation Committee shall appoint four members of the Legislature to serve as nonvoting members of the Commission. The manager of the Seattle airports division, northwest region of the Federal Aviation Administration shall serve as a nonvoting member.
The commission shall study Washington's long-range air transportation needs and assess the local impacts of increasing air traffic. It shall study intermodal transportation systems between airports and economic and population centers. It shall make recommendations to the Legislature on future state air transportation policy, including expansion of existing and potential air carrier and reliever facilities and siting. The commission shall take into account state, local and regional air transportation planning efforts in the development of its recommendations.
The commission is empowered to select a chair from its membership, adopt rules, and employ staff as necessary. It may contract with consultants, and may petition for Federal Aviation Administration matching funds, following consultation with the Department of Transportation. Expenses for the commission, including staff support, shall be paid from the transportation fund or the general fund. The Department of Transportation, the Legislative Transportation Committee, and the Washington State Transportation Center may provide additional staff support. The LTC must approve the commission's budget plan prior to expenditure of funds.
The commission shall present its report to the Legislative Transportation Committee by December 1, 1994, with an interim report in December 1992.
The commission shall be dissolved June 30, 1995.
Appropriation: $750,000 is appropriated from the transportation fund or general fund
Revenue: none
Fiscal Note: requested
Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.