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                           ENGROSSED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 127

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler, Bluechel, McDonald and Thompson

Read first time 1/20/86 and referred to Committee on Parks & Ecology.

WHEREAS, The State of Washington hosts a rich natural biological diversity composed of a large number of native plants, animals, and ecosystems that are the natural heritage of the state; and

          WHEREAS, The development and other uses of the lands of our state have had the unintended consequence of causing the extinction or extirpation of certain elements of that natural heritage and are currently posing a threat to numerous other such elements; and

          WHEREAS, The legislature has mandated a systematic inventory and plan for the protection of threatened biological resources and the establishment of a state system of natural area preserves to ensure the survival of remaining species and representative ecosystems for future generations; and

          WHEREAS, The Department of Natural Resources has formulated a biennial Washington Natural Heritage Plan which identifies various species and ecosystems that are currently threatened or rare and in immediate danger of becoming extinct or extirpated in our state; and

          WHEREAS, These nonrenewable biological resources are a legacy that have great importance for science, education, nature appreciation, agriculture, medicine, baseline measurement, and ecological stability; and

          WHEREAS, Without further timely action it is likely that many additional elements of our state's natural heritage will be irrevocably lost;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a joint select legislative committee on Natural Heritage Resources be created to:

          (1) Review the state natural heritage plan;

          (2) Review the progress and needs of the state natural area preserve program;

          (3) Determine the proper role of private, state, and federal agencies in assuring the survival of all elements of our natural heritage;

          (4) Consider appropriate programs and actions initiated in other states faced with similar problems; and

          (5) Recommend to the 1987 regular session of the legislature appropriate needed actions, if any.

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee on Natural Heritage Resources shall be composed of eight voting members appointed as follows:

          (1) Two members from each caucus of the Senate, selected by the President of the Senate:  One member from each caucus shall be a member of the Senate Parks and Ecology Committee and the other shall be a member of the Senate Ways and Means Committee;

          (2) Two members from each caucus of the House of Representatives, selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives:  One member from each caucus shall be a member of the House Environmental Affairs Committee and the other shall be a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

          If a committee member resigns, does not seek reelection, or is temporarily unable to attend committee functions or activities, a member of the same chamber may be appointed by the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as appropriate, to fill the vacancy; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee use legislative staff and facilities.  All expenses of the committee shall be paid jointly by the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the legislature by the commencement of the 1987 regular session of the legislature.  The committee shall cease to exist on April 1, 1987.