HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 2406

Title:An act relating to salmon recovery projects and activities.

Brief Description:Changing salmon recovery provisions.

Sponsors:Representatives Regala and Buck. 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Meeting Date: January 25, 2000.       

Bill Analysis Prepared by:Bill Lynch, Counsel  (786-7092).

Background:The Legislature created the Salmon Recovery Funding Board during the 1999 legislative session to make grants and loans for salmon recovery projects and activities.  The Governor vetoed the definition section to this legislation, 2E2SSB 5595, which included a definition for Asalmon recovery activities.@  There is no statutory direction regarding what constitutes an appropriate salmon recovery activity for purposes of funding by the board.   There are no provisions which make assistance available to areas that have fish species listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and that also lack baseline hydrological data to address the listing.

The interagency review team, which is scheduled to terminate on July 1, 2000, is required to consider habitat projects that make use of side channels, off-stream rearing enhancement, improvement in overwintering habitat, or use of acclimation ponds.  As a result of the Governor=s veto of the definition section in 2E2SSB 5595, there is no requirement for the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to consider these types of projects.

There is no statutory direction given to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board regarding how much time a project sponsor must complete a project after a grant or loan is awarded.

Summary of bill:Salmon recovery activities funded by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board must have as a principle purpose the protection and restoration of salmonid populations.  Local governments, tribes, other public entities, and private entities may conduct salmon recovery activities.   Salmon recovery activities include, but are not limited to developing baseline hydrological data in areas in which at least one fish species is listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act due to insufficient streamflows, and this baseline data is needed to respond to the listing; preparing stream corridor guidelines;  programmatic permitting; and preparing geographic information system protocols.

Definitions pertaining to salmon recovery funding are modified.   AHabitat projects@ that make use of side channels, off-stream rearing enhancement, improvement in overwintering habitat, or  acclimation ponds must receive consideration for funding.

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board is directed to establish a time limit for completing projects that are awarded grants or loans.  The time limit must be at least three years but may not exceed five years from the time the funds are awarded.  The board must establish criteria allowing a project sponsor to access funds that were awarded without having to reapply in subsequent funding cycles for the same funds.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note:     None requested.

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

Rulemaking Authority: The board must establish a time limit for the completion of

projects, and establish criteria for a project sponsor to access funds without having to reapply for the funds.