8004 AMH COOP H2949.1

SJM 8004 - H AMD 422

By Representative Cooper

Beginning on page 1, after line 7, strike all material through "Canada." on page 3, line 8 and insert the following:

"WHEREAS, It is the understanding of the Legislature of the State of Washington that the Province of British Columbia is considering a small-scale trial to test an augmentation technique that involves the release of grizzly bears near our common border as one component of a recovery plan designed to conserve the North Cascades grizzly bear population, which has been recognized as threatened in both British Columbia and Washington; and

WHEREAS, It is the understanding of the Legislature of the State of Washington that the natural range of grizzly bears can be extensive, up to three hundred square miles for females and five hundred square miles for males (as reported in the brochure entitled "North Cascades Grizzly Bear Outreach Project," which was printed and published with assistance from the following contributors: The United States Fish and Wildlife Service; the United States Forest Service; the National Park Service; the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife; the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee; the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance; and the Defenders of Wildlife); and

WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Washington recognizes that the laws of Washington, as determined by a 1995 Senate vote of 44 to 5 and a vote of the House of Representatives of 96 to 0, establishes the prohibition on the transport, transplantation, importation, or introduction of grizzly bears as the policy of the State of Washington (RCW 77.12.035); and

WHEREAS, The laws of the State of Washington require the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission to protect and encourage the natural regeneration of native grizzly bear populations in suitable areas with suitable habitat (RCW 77.12.035);

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully request that the Province of British Columbia refrain from releasing grizzly bears in locations where the range of the released bear is likely to extend into Washington State, unless the best available scientific information strongly indicates that the grizzly bear population in the North Cascades region of British Columbia is unlikely to recover if population augmentation is not undertaken. If the Province of British Columbia determines that the release of grizzly bears is necessary, the Legislature of the State of Washington respectfully requests that British Columbia mark all released grizzly bears, obtain DNA samples from all released grizzly bears for future identification, choose specific release locations based on an optimal combination of secure, high-quality habitat and a low risk of conflict with humans, not release grizzly bears in a manner that would be expected to result in the animals establishing home ranges entirely in Washington, and coordinate all efforts with the relevant federal and state agencies in Washington.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Gordon Campbell, Premier of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, the Honorable Joyce Murray, Minister of Land, Water and Air Protection, Province of British Columbia, Canada, and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada."

EFFECT: Recognizes that British Columbia's grizzly bear augmentation program is a component of a larger recovery plan, removes language indicating that U.S.-based interest groups have encouraged the British Columbia government, and asks the British Columbia government to use the best available scientific information to determine if population augmentation is necessary.

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