S-4659.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6639

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Morton and Swecker)

Read first time 02/06/98.

Establishing a pilot project for noxious weed control. 

    AN ACT Relating to establishing a pilot project for noxious weed control in state highway rights of way; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that the department of transportation is responsible for control of noxious weeds in the full width of state highway rights of way.  The legislature further finds that an effective noxious weed control program for state highway rights of way requires close cooperation with local noxious weed control boards in order to ensure that locally identified weed control priorities are addressed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The department of transportation shall develop a pilot project to test the effectiveness of greater coordination between the department and local noxious weed control boards.  The pilot program shall be implemented in maintenance area three in the north central region.  The pilot project shall be implemented for the 1998 control season using the following procedures:

    (1) Immediately following the effective date of this act, the relevant noxious weed control boards shall identify specific weed control priorities within their jurisdiction by (a) precise geographic areas; (b) specific species within each maintenance area; (c) recommended control methods; and (d) recommended timing of the control work.  In those maintenance areas that encompass more than one noxious weed control board, the boards must coordinate their noxious weed priorities with the department in order to be eligible to participate in the pilot project;

    (2) Within three weeks of receiving the list of priorities, the department shall provide the noxious weed control board with a plan to address the identified priorities that includes as a minimum:  (a) The budget allocated for noxious weed control for the 1998 season in maintenance area three in the north central region; (b) identified control methods; (c) timing of control work; (d) communication and response protocol procedures with the weed board; and (e) possible options for contracting portions of the work; and

    (3) The local weed boards and the department shall prepare a plan.  The plan shall govern the noxious weed control activities in these maintenance areas for the period beginning May 1, 1998, through the end of the 1998 control season.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The department of transportation shall submit a report that has been reviewed by and for which comments have been received from the participating local noxious weed control boards by December 1, 1998, to the legislative transportation committee reporting the results of the pilot project required in section 2 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.

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