Z-0295

AN ACT Relating to a study of sand, gravel, and rock resource mining and its impact on salmon habitat and urban development; creating new sections; making appropriations; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Over the next twenty years the state's population is expected to increase by two million people. As the urban and suburban development related to this growth spreads into the rural and resource lands, more mineral resources such as sand, gravel, and rock will be needed for the construction of homes, shopping centers, commercial and industrial facilities, and roads. At the same time, this growth will utilize the land base that may contain these deposits. Current evaluations indicate that existing mines will not be able to meet the future demand for sand, gravel, or rock. Current development patterns and land use regulations limit the opportunity to open new mines or to expand existing mines. Therefore, the legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the state to identify known sand, gravel, and rock deposits that are environmentally acceptable for resource production and assure that efforts are undertaken to protect these resources from uses incompatible with mineral extraction so there will be a future supply of these resources.

In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to mine sand and gravel resources from rivers and their floodplains. Current and past practices of mining from rivers and their floodplains may impact the state's effort to recover threatened and endangered anadromous and freshwater fish. Therefore, the legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the state to study the impacts of sand, gravel, and rock resource extraction methods on the habitat needs of anadromous and freshwater fish.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The department of natural resources is directed to prepare a report to the legislature identifying the status of sand, gravel, and rock deposits, and recommending zoning and extraction practices. In preparing the report, the department shall evaluate existing information.

The report shall include the following:

(1) An evaluation of the impacts of sand and gravel excavation in floodplains on the spawning and rearing habitat of salmonid and freshwater species;

(2) A recommendation on whether additional controls are needed for sand and gravel extraction in floodplains to protect fish resources;

(3) An evaluation of the expected life of known and designated sand and gravel deposits within an economically viable transport distance from major urban areas;

(4) An evaluation of current sand, gravel, and rock consumption and projected sand, gravel, and rock consumption trends for the next fifty years;

(5) An evaluation of alternative sources of aggregate supply including recycling, reuse, conservation opportunities, and quarried rock; and

(6) A recommendation to local governments on mineral resource designation standards to protect known deposits of sand, rock, and gravel to meet projected supply needs.

This section expires June 30, 2000.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the purposes of this act.

(2) The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2000, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.