SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1189

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Natural Resources & Parks, March 27, 1997

Title:  An act relating to the moratorium on oil and gas exploration and production off the Washington coast.

Brief Description:  Making the moratorium on oil and gas exploration and production off the Washington coast permanent.

Sponsors:  Representatives K. Schmidt, Chandler, DeBolt, Zellinsky, Buck, McMorris, Mastin, Carlson, Radcliff, Talcott, D. Schmidt, Carrell, Cairnes, Ballasiotes, Huff, Robertson, Hickel, Mitchell, Wolfe, Chopp, Kessler, H. Sommers, Cody, Murray, Doumit, Gardner, Regala, Morris, Wensman, Butler, Hatfield, Fisher, Ogden, Wood, Keiser, Conway, Kenney, Anderson, O'Brien, Cooper, Romero, Poulsen, Mason and Blalock.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Natural Resources & Parks:  3/20/97, 3/27/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Oke, Chair; Rossi, Vice Chair; Hargrove, Jacobsen, Morton, Prentice, Snyder, Spanel, Stevens and Swecker.

Staff:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  Legislation enacted in 1989 established a policy temporarily prohibiting the leasing of Washington's tidal or submerged lands for coastal oil and gas exploration, development, and production.  In 1996, the Legislature extended the prohibition until July 1, 2000.  The 1989 legislation also required a study identifying the positive and negative impacts of leasing state-owned lands for oil and gas development.  The study was due in 1994, but was never initiated.

Summary of Bill:  The prohibition on coastal oil and gas exploration, development, and production is made permanent.  The statute requiring the 1994 study is repealed.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The coast environment is not conducive to oil drilling and exploration.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Ed Owens, Coastal Fishermen; Ron Schultz, Audubon Society; Bruce Wishart, People for Puget Sound.