S-4892               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 6713

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Smith, Sutherland, Owen, Amondson and Bauer)

Read first time 2/2/90.

AN ACT Relating to the prohibition of sales and use of styrofoam fishing bait containers; adding a new section to chapter 70.95 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that the majority of the litter found in the state's streams, rivers, and marine waters, and their adjoining tide and shorelands, consist of styrofoam (polystyrene) bait containers.

          These persistent and nonbiodegradable styrofoam containers provide a significant threat to the fisheries and wildlife resources of the state.  These containers are a source of aesthetic degradation and affects the recreational use of our state waterways.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 70.95 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) Effective January 1, 1991, the sale and use of fishing bait in containers made of, or packaged in, styrofoam (polystyrene) is prohibited.  Containers for natural or preserved bait including but not limited to:  Salmon eggs, sand shrimp, fresh or frozen herring, anchovies, smelt, worms, grubs, maggots, and other natural baits are included in this prohibition.

          (2) A violation of this section is punishable by a civil penalty which shall be not less than two hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars for each offense.