SB 5463 - DIGEST

     Finds that federal fishery agencies are mandating that major modifications be implemented immediately without a thorough analysis of the impacts, an evaluation of less impacting alternatives, or documentation of the anticipated impacts.

     Finds there are questions as to whether federal agencies have based their policies on only one of a number of possible interpretations of federal law.

     Finds that the state's fishery resource, dependent and affected communities, and the state's economy could be unnecessarily and permanently harmed by overly precipitous federal action.

     Declares that, until June 30, 2003, to the extent not inconsistent with federal law, there shall be a moratorium placed on implementation of orders issued by federal fishery agencies that do not comply with the provisions of this act.  During the period the moratorium is in effect, representatives of the executive and the legislative branches of the state of Washington shall consult with their counterparts in the states of Oregon, Idaho, and Montana and involved federal fishery agencies, to examine the basis for federal policies that order destruction of significant populations of salmonids and their eggs and sperm, and to evaluate alternatives that have less impact to the salmonid resource, to dependent and affected communities, and to each state's economy.

     Requires that, by December 15, 2002, the department of fish and wildlife shall submit a report that provides a list of the alternative policies that were considered together with the estimated impact of each alternative to the fishery resource, to dependent and affected communities, and to Washington's economy.  The report shall be submitted to the chief clerk of the house of representatives and the secretary of the senate.