BILL REQ. #:  H-4479.1 

READ FIRST TIME 01/24/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to developing regional compacts for siting transmission lines; adding a new section to chapter 80.50 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   It is the intent of the legislature to create a regional process for the siting of new electric transmission lines related to the national energy policy act of 2005. This regional process will facilitate the siting of new cross borders electric transmission lines by providing a "one stop" licensing process. This act calls for the creation of a legislative task force to establish an interstate compact to assert jurisdiction over national interest electric transmission corridors.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 80.50 RCW to read as follows:
     (1)(a) A task force on national interest electric transmission corridors is established, with members as provided in this subsection.
     (i) The chair and the ranking minority member from the senate water, energy and environment committee;
     (ii) The chair and the ranking minority member from the house technology, energy and communications committee;
     (iii) The governor shall appoint five members representing the energy facility site evaluation council, local governments, resource agencies, or other persons with appropriate expertise.
     (b) The task force shall choose its cochairs representing the senate and house of representatives from among its legislative membership.
     (2)(a) The task force shall negotiate the terms of an interstate compact that establishes a regional process for siting national interest electric transmission corridors satisfactory to provisions of the national energy policy act of 2005.
     (b) In negotiating the terms of the compact, the task force shall ensure that the compact reflects as close as possible the Washington state energy facility site evaluation council model under this chapter and its procedures to ensure appropriate adjudicative proceedings and mitigation of environmental impacts.
     (c) The task force shall negotiate the terms of the compact through processes established and supported by the Pacific Northwest economic region for which the state of Washington is a party as referenced in RCW 43.147.010.
     (3) Staff support for the task force members shall be provided from respective committees and appropriate agencies appointed by the governor.
     (4) Legislative members of the task force shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 44.04.120. Nonlegislative members, except those representing an employer or organization, are entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
     (5) The task force shall report its preliminary recommendations on the compact to the appropriate committees of the legislature by January 1, 2007.
     (6) The task force shall report its final recommendations on the compact to the appropriate committees of the legislature by September 1, 2007.