SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6326

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Owen)

Authorizing a southern Puget Sound water quality program.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Gary Wilburn (786-7453)

                  January 25, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 5, 1990; February 6, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6326 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Saling, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Michael Groesch (786-7715)

                  February 23, 1990

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Both the Cooperative Extensive Service and the Washington Sea Grant Program provide advisory services.  The Cooperative Extension concentrates its services on upland activities related to agriculture while the Sea Grant concentrates on marine resources.  Both programs closely coordinate their advisory services where water quality considerations of upland activities may affect important marine resources such as fish and shellfish.

Recently the Cooperative Extension has been working with Mason County to provide extension agents for technical assistance regarding nonpoint source water pollution issues that affect the water quality of Puget Sound.  Additionally, the Sea Grant Program has provided advisory services to waterfront property owners regarding small-scale oyster farming and other shellfish operations.

The 1989 Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan includes an element for the Sea Grant Program and Cooperative Extension Service to provide field agents to help coordinate and implement education and public involvement efforts related to water quality, with an emphasis on working with local governments.  However, this element was not funded for the 1990-1991 biennium.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Sea Grant Program and the Cooperative Extension Service will jointly administer a program providing field agents within Kitsap, Mason and Jefferson counties.  The agents shall provide technical assistance on issues affecting shellfish production, including addressing nonpoint and point sources of pollution, water quality problems affecting recreational shellfish harvest, and the management and increased production of shellfish by facility operators.  The agents will also assist local governments in implementing education and public involvement activities.

Sea Grant will have primary responsibility to address water quality issues and shellfish production within Puget Sound, while Cooperative Extension will take the lead on upland and freshwater activities affecting Puget Sound watersheds.

A match of nonstate funds will be required of between 25 and 50 percent of the cost of services provided.  The match may be either monetary compensation or in-kind services.  A report on the program is to be submitted to the Legislature in 1992 regarding whether it should be expanded to additional areas of the Sound.

The bill is made contingent on funding in the supplemental budget.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES:  Ernest Hobb, WSU Cooperative Extension (pro); Mike Spranger, Washington Sea Grant (pro); Kathy Fletcher, Puget Sound Water Quality Authority (pro); Charlie Stevens, Oyster Growers Association (pro); Robert Steelquist (pro)

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  No one