Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee |
2SSB 6263
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Facilitating marine management planning.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Ranker, Hargrove, Delvin, Litzow, Swecker, Rolfes, Schoesler, Kilmer, Fraser, Kohl-Welles, Hobbs and Hatfield).
Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 2/15/12
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
Marine Management Planning.
A process for marine management planning was initiated in 2010. The planning is conducted by the Marine Interagency Team (team), consisting of the Office of the Governor and natural resources agencies with jurisdiction over marine issues. The team was initially tasked with, and has completed, an assessment of existing marine planning efforts in the state and a recommended framework for integrating marine spatial planning into management planning efforts.
The team was directed to coordinate the development of a comprehensive marine management plan (plan) for the state's marine waters. The team is authorized to develop the plan in geographic segments, and may incorporate elements from an existing plan. The plan elements include an ecosystem assessment that analyzes the health and status of marine waters, a series of maps providing information on the marine ecosystem, human uses of marine waters, and areas with high potential for renewable energy production and low potential for conflicts with existing uses and sensitive environments, recommendations to the federal government for use priorities and limitations within the Exclusive Economic Zone, and a strategy for plan implementation using existing state and local authorities.
The team has two years to complete the plan once it initiates the planning process. In developing the plan, the team must seek input from specified stakeholders. The marine management plan many not affect any project, use, or activity existing prior to completion of the plan. Upon completion, the Director of the Department of Ecology must submit the plan to the federal government for review, approval, and inclusion in the state's Coastal Zone Management Plan.
A dedicated account, the Marine Resources Stewardship Trust Account, exists to fund marine management planning and associated activities.
Summary of Bill:
Changes are made to the implementation of the Marine Resources Stewardship Account (Account). The funds in the Account may no longer be used for the restoration or enhancement of marine habitats and resources. This long-term limits on use of the Account is limited to marine management planning, marine spatial planning, research, monitoring, and plan implementation. In the short term, until July 1, 2016, the uses on funds in the Account are further restricted. Until that date the funds in the Account may only be used coordinating regional planning efforts, developing a marine management plan (plan), and conducting ecosystem assessment and mapping activities.
In addition to changes in the administration of the Account, the marine management planning team is relived of its restriction on using state funding and it authorized to develop plans for different geographic areas on different schedules.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 9, 2012.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.