FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5670

                         C 11 L 99 E1

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating criteria for the issuance of water quality permits for the treatment of noxious weeds.

Sponsors:  Senators Snyder and Rasmussen.

Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

Background:  Spartina is classified as an aquatic noxious weed.  The Department of Agriculture is primarily responsible for controlling Spartina.  In doing so, it is required to apply to the Department of Ecology for a permit to apply certain experimental herbicides.  The Department of Ecology sets the conditions for application.

Summary:  The application of herbicides and surfactants registered to control Spartina and other noxious weeds, subject to certain specified conditions of application and water quality criteria is authorized.  Permits for such applications are valid for five years.

Application of experimental herbicides is also authorized.  Those applications are exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act.

The Department of Agriculture may add assessments of possible herbicide application changes to the existing environmental impact statement, rather than issuing a new statement.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 46 0

House     70 26 (House amended)

Senate        (Senate refused to concur)

First Special Session

Senate    45 0

House     93 1

Effective:  June 7, 1999