HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6326

BYSenate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senator Owen)

Authorizing a southern Puget Sound water quality program.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Brekke, G. Fisher, Fraser, Phillips, Pruitt, Schoon, Sprenkle, Van Luven and Walker.

House Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7114)

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (25)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair;  Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Brough, Dorn, Doty, Ferguson, Hine, Inslee, May, McLean, Nealey, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7137)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS FEBRUARY 24, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service and the Washington Sea Grant Program provide advisory services to local governments and the public.  The Cooperative Extension concentrates its services on upland agricultural activities while the Sea Grant concentrates on marine resources.  The programs closely coordinate their advisory services where water quality considerations of upland activities may affect fish, shellfish, and other marine resources.

Recently, the Cooperative Extension has been working with Mason County to provide extension agents to address nonpoint water pollution issues affecting Puget Sound.  Additionally, the Sea Grant has provided advice to waterfront property owners regarding small-scale oyster farming and other shellfish operations.

The 1989 Puget Sound Water Quality Management Plan includes an element directing the Sea Grant and Cooperative Extension to provide field agents to help coordinate and implement education and public involvement efforts related to water quality. This element of the plan was not funded for the 1990-1991 biennium.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Sea Grant Program and the Cooperative Extension Service will jointly administer a program providing field agents within Kitsap, Mason and Jefferson counties.  The agents will provide technical assistance on issues affecting shellfish production. The agents will also assist local governments in implementing water quality education and public involvement activities.

Within the three county area, the Sea Grant will have primary responsibility to address water quality issues and provide assistance for shellfish production within Puget Sound, and the Cooperative Extension will lead upland and freshwater activities.

A match of nonstate funds of between 25 and 50 percent of the cost of services provided will be required.  The match may be either monetary compensation or in-kind services.  A report on the program will be submitted to the Legislature in 1992 regarding whether the program should be expanded to additional areas of the Sound.

The bill is made contingent on funding in the supplemental budget.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS: None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Environmental Affairs) Barry Jenkins, Trout Unlimited; Bill Taylor, Pacific Coast Oyster Growers Association; Mike Spranger, Washington Sea Grant; and James R. Freed, Washington State University Cooperative Extension.

(Appropriations) No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Environmental Affairs) No one.

(Appropriations) No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Environmental Affairs) Using extension agents to promote "backyard" shellfish production will sensitize citizens to the problems of non-point pollution.

(Appropriations) None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Environmental Affairs) None.

(Appropriations) None.