SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5290

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

   Environmental Quality & Water Resources, February 16, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the freshwater aquatic weeds management program.

Brief Description:  Changing the freshwater aquatic weeds management program by clarifying funding and creating an advisory committee.

Sponsors:  Senators Fraser, Swecker, Winsley, Fairley, Franklin, Morton, Prentice, Spanel, Jacobsen, Honeyford, Oke and Rasmussen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Environmental Quality & Water Resources:  2/4/99, 2/16/99 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY & WATER RESOURCES

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5290 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Honeyford, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Morton and Swecker.

Staff:  Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background:  The freshwater weeds account created in 1991 is funded by a $3 annual licensing surcharge on boat trailers.  The purposes of the account are to: (1) provide grants to state agencies and local governments to control aquatic weeds in waters with a public boat launch; (2) develop a public education program related to the prevention of the propagation of aquatic weeds; (3) provide technical assistance to local governments and citizen groups; (4) fund pilot projects; and (5) conduct hydrilla eradication activities.  Revenues generated to date total approximately $4.9 million.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The Department of Ecology must allocate funds from the freshwater aquatic weeds account as follows:  (1) no less than two-thirds as grants to state agencies, local governments, tribes and special purpose districts to prevent or control freshwater aquatic weeds; and conduct pilot projects and hydrilla eradication activities; and (2) no more than one-third on public education programs and technical assistance to local governments and citizens groups.

The department must appoint an advisory committee to oversee the freshwater weeds management program.  The committee must include representatives of the following groups: recreational boaters; residents adjacent to lakes, rivers, or streams with public boat launch facilities; local governments; scientific specialists; aquatic pesticide applicators; pesticide registrants and the aquatic nuisance species coordinating committee if SB 5315 passes and establishes the coordinating committee.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The allocation of the freshwater aquatic weeds account for grants is expanded from no less than 50 percent to no less than two-thirds.  Pilot projects and hydrilla eradication activities are allowed to participate in grant funding.  Tribes and special purpose districts are made eligible to receive grants.

"Aquatic pesticide applicators" is changed to "certified applicator" and the definition to the Pesticide Application Act, Chapter 17.21 RCW, is referenced.  A representative of "pesticide registrants" is added to the advisory committee overseeing the freshwater aquatic weeds management program.  The definition of "pesticide registrant" is referenced to the Pesticide Control Act, Chapter 15.58 RCW.  A representative of the aquatic nuisance species coordinating committee is added to the advisory committee.  [Note: SB 5315 must pass to establish the aquatic nuisance species coordinating committee.]

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Grants have been highly effective for funding control of aquatic weeds.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Terry McNabb, Resource Management Inc. (pro); Dan Robinson, Lake Limerick (pro); Dick Wallace, Department of Ecology (budget concerns); Peter Birch, Department of Fish and Wildlife (pro); Warren Perkins, Washington State Lake Protection Association (pro).