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HPA Reform
The Department of Fish and Wildlife request legislation (HB 2135) that would have implemented a $150 application fee on Hydraulic Project Approvals (HPA's) received a very rocky reception in the House Ways and Means Committee. There was substantial opposition to the measure, and support from the Governor's Office and department. The provisions of the bill were not included in the legislature's "early-cuts" bill and it seems unlikely that the bill will be taken up in the regular session.
SEPA Reform
We are still waiting to see a complete bill draft from Representative Fitzgibbon on SEPA reform, but should be getting something within days. WSAC staff have seen a summary of the ideas that will be included in the bill, and it appears that the bill will include all of the ideas proposed by WSAC, the Association of Washington Cities, and the Association of Washington Business. As soon as a complete proposal is provided, we will forward it to county planners for their review.
Exempt Well Legislation
During the special session WSAC staff developed a "placeholder" bill that could serve as a vehicle for ideas that will be developed by the Exempt Well Workgroup. We spoke with key legislators on this issue and received some support to introduce the placeholder bill. In the end however, given the very short timeframe during the special session, there was not enough legislative support to get even a placeholder bill pre-filed for early introduction during the regular legislative session. Representative Chandler (15th legislative district, Yakima, Klickitat, and Skamania counties) and Senator Haugen (10th legislative district, Island, Skagit, and Snohomish counties) were particularly interested in getting a bill introduced for WSAC, and we sincerely appreciate their support.
ESA Encumbered State Forest Land Replacement
As described in the last legislative bulletin, WSAC and the Department of Natural Resources have partnered together to request a bill that would authorize the Board of Natural Resources to combine newly acquired replacement lands for four small timber counties. WSAC and DNR staff met jointly with nearly every member of the House and Senate natural resources committees during the special session, and we have a very solid foundation for this legislation. We expect strong support during the regular session.
Timber County Distribution of Forest Development Account Funding
WSAC staff advocated that the legislature include the Commissioner of Public Lands proposal to distribute $10 million from the state Forest Development Account to timber counties in their "early cuts" bill during the special session. Despite strong advocacy on the part of Representative Blake, Senator Hatfield, Representative Orcutt, and Representative Haigh we were unsuccessful in overcoming the reservations of House Ways & Means chair, Ross Hunter. We will be pursuing this issue during the regular session. WSAC members from counties that would benefit from this distribution (see the attached list) should call their legislators before the next legislative session and let them know that we need to see this expenditure authority approved in the next session. WSAC members that are represented by the previously named advocates should let those legislators know how much we appreciate their help on this.
Clallam - over $800,000
Clark - over $600,000
Cowlitz - over $400,000
Grays Harbor - over $259,000
Jefferson - over $200,000
King - over $300,000
Kitsap - over $70,000
Klickitat - over $193,000
Lewis - over $860,000
Mason - over $400,000
Pacific - over $300,000
Pierce - over $300,000
Skagit - over $1.4 million
Snohomish - over $1.5 million
Stevens - over $6,000
Thurston - over $760,000
Wahkiakum - over $270,000
Whatcom - over $734,000
Stormwater
Thanks to Dan Wrye, Pierce County's Water Quality Manager, for his excellent presentation before the Senate Environment Committee about Pierce County's experiences in trying comply with the permit. If you would like a copy of his presentation, please e-mail Max Brown.
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