BILL REQ. #:  S-3238.2 

Read first time 12/14/11.   Referred to Committee on Energy, Natural Resources & Marine Waters.

     AN ACT Relating to the Olympic natural resources center; and amending RCW 43.30.820 and 43.30.810.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 43.30.820 and 2010 1st sp.s. c 7 s 74 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The Olympic natural resources center shall operate under the authority of the board of regents of the University of Washington. It shall be administered by a director appointed jointly by the ((deans)) directors of the ((college)) school of forest resources and the ((college)) school of ((ocean)) aquatic and fishery sciences. The director of the center shall be a member of the faculty of one of those ((colleges)) schools. The director of the center shall appoint and maintain a scientific or technical committee, and other committees as necessary, to advise the director on the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of the center's activities.
     (2) The governor must appoint a policy advisory board consisting of eleven members to advise the directors of the school of forest resources, the school of aquatic and fishery sciences, and the Olympic natural resources center on policies for the center that are consistent with its purposes. Membership on the policy advisory board must broadly represent the various interests concerned with the purposes of the center, including state and federal government, environmental, local community, timber industry, and tribal interests.
     (3) Service on boards and committees of the Olympic natural resources center is without compensation but actual travel expenses incurred in connection with service to the center may be reimbursed from appropriated funds in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

Sec. 2   RCW 43.30.810 and 1991 c 316 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The Olympic natural resources center is hereby created at the University of Washington in the ((college)) school of forest resources and the ((college)) school of ((ocean)) aquatic and fishery sciences.
     (2) The Olympic natural resources center shall maintain facilities and programs in the western portion of the Olympic Peninsula. ((Its)) The purpose ((shall be)) of the center is to demonstrate innovative management methods which successfully integrate environmental and economic interests into pragmatic management of forest and ocean resources. The center shall combine research and educational opportunities with experimental forestry, oceans management, and traditional management knowledge into an overall program which demonstrates that management based on sound economic principles is made superior when combined with new methods of management based on ecological principles. The programs developed by the center shall include the following:
     (((1))) (a) Research and education on a broad range of ocean resources problems and opportunities in the region, such as estuarine processes, ocean and coastal management, offshore development, fisheries and shellfish enhancement, and coastal business development, tourism, and recreation. In developing this component of the center's program, the center shall collaborate with coastal educational institutions such as Grays Harbor community college and Peninsula community college;
     (((2))) (b) Research and education on forest resources management issues on the landscape, ecosystem, or regional level, including issues that cross legal and administrative boundaries;
     (((3))) (c) Research and education that broadly integrates marine and terrestrial issues, including interactions of marine, aquatic, and terrestrial ecosystems, and that identifies options and opportunities to integrate the production of commodities with the preservation of ecological values. Where appropriate, programs shall address issues and opportunities that cross legal and administrative boundaries;
     (((4))) (d) Research and education on natural resources and their social and economic implications, and on alternative economic and social bases for sustainable, healthy, resource-based communities;
     (((5))) (e) Educational opportunities such as workshops, short courses, and continuing education for resource professionals, policy forums, information exchanges including international exchanges where appropriate, conferences, student research, and public education; and
     (((6))) (f) Creation of a neutral forum where parties with diverse interests are encouraged to address and resolve their conflicts.