BILL REQ. #:  H-1213.2 

Read first time 02/06/2007.   Referred to Committee on Select Committee on Puget Sound.

     AN ACT Relating to Puget Sound marine resource committees; adding new sections to chapter 90.71 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds the challenge of developing realistic, effective, and efficient solutions to the conservation and management issues facing Puget Sound requires calling on all available sources of knowledge and creative thinking available in the collective wisdom of Washington's citizens. The legislature further finds that Puget Sound is both a dynamic and localized waterbody with unique local challenges and unique local solutions. As such, it is essential for the future management of Puget Sound that citizens, through their local government, have a voice and an opportunity to share their dedication and interest in the well-being of their community's unique marine waters, while providing a valuable contribution to the statewide efforts aimed at restoring the Puget Sound as a whole.
     (2) The legislature further finds that federally led efforts to establish marine resource communities have proven to be an exciting vehicle for involving local citizens and community leaders in the future discussions, decisions, and restoration commitments in the waters most important to the community. The existing model of using a community-based, nonregulatory organization to examine issues particular to a community's corner of Puget Sound, applying for grants, and thoroughly and fairly investigating available options and solutions has proved to be a valuable asset to Puget Sound and its communities, and is worthy of replication throughout the Puget Sound basin.
     (3) In this act, the legislature intends to establish a structure on which interested local communities can harness the dedication, creativity, and wisdom of their residents in the form of marine resource committees. These committees are intended to compliment, and not compete with or undermine, any other governmental efforts to restore and manage the Puget Sound.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   (1) The legislative authority for each city and county that borders the marine waters of Puget Sound is authorized to establish marine resource committees consistent with the procedures outlined in section 3 of this act.
     (2) The mission of a marine resource committee created under this section is to address, utilizing sound science, the needs of the marine ecosystem local to the city or county participating in the marine resource committee.
     (3) A marine resource committee created under this section should review current data and resource conservation and management programs and make prioritized recommendations for additional measures that might be necessary to enhance protection of marine resources.
     (4) The role of a marine resource committee in developing recommendations includes, but is not limited to:
     (a) Utilizing existing data and, to the extent necessary, helping to gather new data on the health of local marine resources;
     (b) Making scientifically based recommendations on local candidate sites for marine protected areas;
     (c) Working closely with local and state officials to help implement recommendations of the marine resource committee;
     (d) Promoting public outreach and education around marine resource conservation and management issues; and
     (e) Engaging in any other activities that the participating city or county deems appropriate.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) A marine resource committee, as described in section 2 of this act, may be created by the legislative authority of any city or county bordering the marine waters of Puget Sound, in cooperation with all appropriate special districts within their boundaries. Adjacent county and city legislative authorities are encouraged to coordinate their efforts whenever there is a mutual interest in creating a marine resource committee.
     (2) Participating county and city legislative authorities must select members of the marine resource committee, ensuring balanced representation from: Local government; scientific experts; effected economic interests; effected recreational interests; and environmental and conservation interests.
     (3) County and city residents may petition the county or city legislative authority to create a marine resource committee. Upon receipt of a petition, the city or county legislative authority must respond in writing within sixty days as to whether they will authorize the creation of a marine resource committee as well as the reasons for their decision.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   Nothing in section 2 or 3 of this act is intended to expand or limit the authority of local marine resource committees existing as of the effective date of this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Sections 2 through 4 of this act are each added to chapter 90.71 RCW.