HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6305

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      Natural Resources

Title:  An act relating to off‑site mitigation proposals for hydraulic projects.

Brief Description:  Authorizing approval of off‑site mitigation proposals for hydraulic projects.

Sponsors:  Senator Drew.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Natural Resources:  2/21/96 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Fuhrman, Chairman; Buck, Vice Chairman; Pennington, Vice Chairman; Basich, Ranking Minority Member; Regala, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beeksma; Hatfield; Jacobsen; Sheldon; L. Thomas and Thompson.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The Department of Fish and Wildlife administers hydraulic permits.  The department has a policy of requiring on-site mitigation of the effects of hydraulic projects on fish life. 

The Hydraulics Appeal Board is a three-member board consisting of the director or the director's designee from the Department of Ecology, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.  The board makes decisions on appeals relating to hydraulic permits issued by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Summary of Bill:  Legislative findings are made that off-site mitigation may provide more benefit to fish than on-site mitigation.  The Department of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to approve off-site mitigation for hydraulic permits.  The Hydraulic Project Appeals Board is given jurisdiction to hear appeals relating to off-site mitigation of hydraulic permits. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Off-site mitigation will benefit port districts.  On-site mitigation is often difficult to accomplish because land use planning laws require new development to occur in already developed areas.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Eric Johnson, Washington Public Ports Association; Ed Owens, Coalition of Coastal Fisheries (both in favor); and Ed Manary, Department of Fish and Wildlife.