SSB 6761 -
By Committee on Ecology & Parks
ADOPTED AND ENGROSSED 03/06/2008
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 90.84.030 and 1998 c 248 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) Subject to the requirements of this chapter, the department,
through a collaborative process, shall adopt rules for:
(((1))) (a) Certification, operation, and monitoring of wetlands
mitigation banks. The rules shall include procedures to assure that:
(((a))) (i) Priority is given to banks providing for the
restoration of degraded or former wetlands;
(((b))) (ii) Banks involving the creation and enhancement of
wetlands are certified only where there are adequate assurances of
success and that the bank will result in an overall environmental
benefit; and
(((c))) (iii) Banks involving the preservation of wetlands or
associated uplands are certified only when the preservation is in
conjunction with the restoration, enhancement, or creation of a
wetland, or in other exceptional circumstances as determined by the
department consistent with this chapter;
(((2))) (b) Determination and release of credits from banks.
Procedures regarding credits shall authorize the use and sale of
credits to offset adverse impacts and the phased release of credits as
different levels of the performance standards are met;
(((3))) (c) Public involvement in the certification of banks, using
existing statutory authority;
(((4))) (d) Coordination of governmental agencies, including early
notification of the local government where the bank is located;
(((5))) (e) Establishment of criteria for determining service areas
for each bank in accordance with subsection (2) of this section;
(((6))) (f) Performance standards; and
(((7))) (g) Long-term management, financial assurances, and
remediation for certified banks.
(2) The criteria for determining service areas under subsection
(1)(e) of this section shall include a requirement that restricts the
maximum extent of the service area of a wetlands mitigation bank to the
water resource inventory area (WRIA) as established under chapter
173-500 WAC in which the bank is located except where a service area
may include parts of other WRIAs if it is ecologically defensible and
appropriate.
(3) Before adopting rules under this chapter, the department shall
submit the proposed rules to the appropriate standing committees of the
legislature. By January 30, 1999, the department shall submit a report
to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature on its
progress in developing rules under this chapter.
Sec. 2 RCW 90.84.040 and 1998 c 248 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The department may certify only those banks that meet the
requirements of this chapter. Certification shall be accomplished
through a banking instrument. The local jurisdiction in which the bank
is located shall be signatory to the banking instrument.
(2) For a bank for which an application for a banking instrument
was filed January 1, 2008, or thereafter, the department may not
certify a bank without local approval of the bank. The local
jurisdiction in which the bank is located has final approval over the
certification of the mitigation bank. If the local government approves
the bank, it shall be a signatory to the banking instrument.
(3) State agencies and local governments may approve use of credits
from a bank for any mitigation required under a permit issued or
approved by that state agency or local government to compensate for the
proposed impacts of a specific public or private project."
Correct the title.