AN ACT Relating to Puget Sound water quality; adding new sections to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and making appropriations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this act the following definitions apply:

(1) "Sea grant" means the Washington state sea grant program.

(2) "Cooperative extension" means the cooperative extension service of Washington State University.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. LOCAL FIELD AGENTS. (1) The sea grant and cooperative extension shall jointly administer a program to provide field agents to work with local governments, property owners, and the general public to increase the propagation of shellfish, and to address Puget Sound water quality problems within Kitsap, Mason, and Jefferson counties that may limit shellfish propagation potential. The sea grant and cooperative extension shall each make available the services of no less than two agents within these counties for the purposes of this section.

(2) The responsibilities of the field agents shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) Provide technical assistance to property owners, marine industry owners and operators, and others, regarding methods and practices to address nonpoint and point sources of pollution of Puget Sound;

(b) Provide technical assistance to address water quality problems limiting opportunities for enhancing the recreational harvest of shellfish;

(c) Provide technical assistance in the management and increased production of shellfish to facility operators or to those interested in establishing an operation;

(d) Assist local governments to develop and implement education and public involvement activities related to Puget Sound water quality;

(e) Assist in coordinating local water quality programs with region-wide and state-wide programs;

(f) Provide information and assistance to local watershed committees.

(3) The sea grant and cooperative extension shall mutually coordinate their field agent activities to avoid duplicative efforts and to ensure that the full range of responsibilities under sections 2 through 4 of this act are carried out. They shall consult with the Puget Sound water quality authority and ensure consistency with the authority's water quality management plan.

(4) Recognizing the special expertise of both agencies, the sea grant and cooperative extension shall cooperate to divide their activities as follows:

(a) Sea grant shall have primary responsibility to address water quality issues related to activities within Puget Sound, and to provide assistance regarding the management and improvement of shellfish production; and

(b) Cooperative extension shall have primary responsibility to address upland and freshwater activities affecting Puget Sound water quality and associated watersheds.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. MATCHING REQUIREMENTS. Sea grant and cooperative extension shall require a match from nonstate sources of at least twenty-five percent of the cost of the services provided, and not exceeding fifty percent of the cost. the match may be either monetary compensation or in-kind services, such as the provision for office space or clerical support. Only direct costs of providing the services, excluding costs of administrative overhead, may be included in the estimate of costs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. PROGRAM REVIEW. By November 1, 1992, sea grant and cooperative extension shall jointly submit a report to the legislature that includes the activities of the program, an evaluation of the success in improving practices affecting Puget Sound water quality, and recommendations regarding whether the program should be expanded to other areas of Puget Sound. The report shall also recommend additional methods of increasing shellfish propagation, recreational harvesting of shellfish, and addressing of water quality conditions affecting shellfish within Kitsap, Mason, and Jefferson counties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. APPROPRIATION. (1) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the .......... fund to the University of Washington for the sea grant program to carry out the purposes of this act.

(2) The sum of one hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1991, from the .......... fund to Washington State University for the cooperative extension service to carry out the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 4 of this act are each added to Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. CAPTIONS NOT LAW. Captions as used in this act constitute no part of the law.