HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4009

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Brief Description:  Urging review of federal environmental mandates.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mulliken, Kessler, Cox, Fortunato, DeBolt, Doumit, McMorris, Linville, B. Chandler, Alexander, Boldt, Clements, Campbell, Crouse, Sump, Ericksen, Schindler, Mielke, Schoesler, G. Chandler, Delvin, Lisk, Hankins, Skinner, Thomas, D. Schmidt, Hatfield, Koster, Mastin, Parlette and Mitchell.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/23/99, 2/26/99 [DP].

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Petitions the Congress of the United States to review the impact of federal mandates on rural areas and to consider how to mitigate these impacts on local governments and residents.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co-Chair; Linville, Democratic Co-Chair; Koster, Republican Vice Chair; Anderson; B. Chandler; Delvin; Fortunato; Grant; Reardon and Sump.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Stensen and Wood.

Staff:  Carole Richmond (786-7114).

Background:

Many rural areas are experiencing high unemployment and low wages, in part because of the decline of natural resource industries and because new businesses are not locating or expanding in these areas.  Rural areas are affected by requirements of federal environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act, and have less capacity to implement these requirements than urban areas.  In 1998, the legislative Joint Task Force on Rural Land Use and Economic Development heard testimony from around the state regarding the impact of federal environmental laws on rural economic development.  There is a concern that rural economic development may be impeded by regulatory burdens associated with federal environmental laws.

Summary of Bill:

The Congress of the United States is petitioned to review the impact of federal environmental mandates on rural areas and to consider how to mitigate the impact of these mandates on the local governments and residents of these areas.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Testimony For:  The Joint Task Force on Rural Land Use and Economic Development heard how difficult it is for rural communities to comply with federal mandates with limited resources, and how economic development may be impeded by these federal laws.  We're asking the 49 other states to send a similar message to Congress.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Joyce Mulliken, prime sponsor; and Linda Johnson, Farm Bureau.