6531 AMH EPAR H5851.1

SB 6531  - H COMM AMD
     By Committee on Ecology & Parks

     Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 47.01 RCW to read as follows:
     

For highway construction projects where agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance will be considered for environmental mitigation, in the process of reviewing and selecting sites to meet these mitigation requirements under the national environmental policy act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 4321 et seq.) and chapter 43.21C RCW, the department shall, to the greatest extent possible, consider using state and local public land first.
     If state and local public lands are not available that meet the required environmental mitigation needs, the department may use other sites while making every effort to avoid any net loss of agricultural lands that have a designation of long-term commercial significance.

     Correct the title.

EFFECT:  Limits DOT's consideration of using public land first to meet highway construction environmental mitigation requirements to projects where agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance are being considered for environmental mitigation.

--- END ---