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HOUSE
BILL 2797
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Passed
Legislature - 1998 Regular Session
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By
Read first time 01/20/98.
Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
Modifying
the membership of the natural heritage advisory council.
AN
ACT Relating to increasing public participation in the establishment of natural
area preserves; amending RCW 79.70.070; and adding a new section to chapter
79.70 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
79.70.070 and 1994 c 264 s 62 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The natural heritage advisory council is hereby established. The council shall
consist of fifteen members, ((nine)) ten of whom shall be chosen
as follows and who shall elect from the council's membership a chairperson:
(a)
Five individuals, appointed by the commissioner, who shall be recognized
experts in the ecology of natural areas and represent the public, academic, and
private sectors. Desirable fields of expertise are biological and geological
sciences; and
(b)
((Four)) Five individuals, appointed by the commissioner, who
shall be selected from the various regions of the state. At least one member
shall be or represent a private forest landowner and at least one member shall
be or represent a private agricultural landowner.
(2)
Members appointed under subsection (1) of this section shall serve for terms of
four years.
(3)
In addition to the members appointed by the commissioner, the director of the
department of fish and wildlife, the director of the department of ecology, the
supervisor of the department of natural resources, the director of the state
parks and recreation commission, and the administrator of the interagency
committee for outdoor recreation, or an authorized representative of each
agency officer, shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the council.
(4)
Any vacancy on the council shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired
term by the commissioner.
(5)
In order to provide for staggered terms, of the initial members of the council:
(a)
Three shall serve for a term of two years;
(b)
Three shall serve for a term of three years; and
(c)
Three shall serve for a term of four years.
(6)
Members of the natural preserves advisory committee serving on July 26, 1981,
shall serve as members of the council until the commissioner appoints a
successor to each. The successor appointment shall be specifically designated
to replace a member of the natural preserves advisory committee until all
members of that committee have been replaced. A member of the natural
preserves advisory committee is eligible for appointment to the council if
otherwise qualified.
(7)
Members of the council shall serve without compensation. Members shall be
reimbursed for travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 as
now or hereafter amended.
NEW
SECTION. Sec. 2. A
new section is added to chapter 79.70 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall hold a public hearing in the county where the
majority of the land in a proposed natural area preserve is located prior to
establishing the boundary.
