People For Puget Sound's 2008 Legislative Priorities

3/13/08

Get Involved. Contact:  Rein Attemann | 206.382.7007

Protecting Orcas by Reducing Vessel Harassment-APPROVED

The legislature approved legislation in the final week of legislative session which will further bolster efforts to protect threatened resident orca whales in the region.  HB 2514 (Rep. Quall)  establishes a 300-foot zone around orca whales, which vessels must avoid. The legislation provides the Department of Fish and Wildlife with enforcement tools necessary to better protect the endangered southern resident whales.  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has identified vessel harassment as a major threat to orcas in Puget Sound.   The bill has been delivered to the Governor to be signed into law.

Year Round Funding for Rescue Tug at Neah Bay-APPROVED
One oil spill would devastate Puget Sound orca whales and bring to a stop all the progress we’ve made on Puget Sound recovery.    Experts have for some time recognized that a “rescue tug” stationed at Neah Bay is one of the best ways to prevent such a spill.   The tug, which has been funded part-time during the winter months, has rescued 36 vessels off our coast and in the Strait of Juan de Fuca that might otherwise have spilled oil.    The legislature, on the last day of session, approved funding for a year-round tug, increasing coverage by six months.    A coalition of conservation groups, local governments, and others have advocated for year-round coverage for 15 years.   

Senator Maria Cantwell introduced legislation in Congress last year (S.1892) which, if approved, will require oil companies and other shippers to pay for the tug and ensure that it becomes permanent. Work continues at the federal level on this matter.

Delay Puget Sound Partnership Action Agenda—APPROVED
We were surprised to find that the final budget includes language pushing the September 1, 2008, deadline for completion of the Action Agenda to December 1, 2008. This will mean that the Governor’s 2010-11 budget will not include funding to implement the Action Agenda unless the Partnership can get a budget request for implementation to the Governor in advance of Action Agenda completion. It also means that the schedule of meetings and issue papers and the draft Agenda itself previously announced by the Partnership will change. Please check back at this web site  where we will post more details when we have them.

Save Maury Island Aquatic Reserve-- NOT APPROVED
Senator Joe McDermott (SB 6777) and Rep. Dave Upthegrove introduced identical bills to require that the title dispute over whether the state owns the gravel at the Maury Island mine that Glacier NW wishes to expand into the existing Aquatic Reserve, be resolved before DNR issues a lease for the expansion. The bill didn’t pass, but there is money in the final budget for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee to conduct a study of the minerals ownership question.

Marine Managed Areas-- NOT APPROVED
Senator Rockefeller  (PSSB 6307) introduced legislation this session to coordinate the various aquatic protected areas programs at DNR, DFW, and State Parks, under the aegis of the Puget Sound Partnership, and to create a strategic network of reserves in Puget Sound. The bill also would have aligned these programs with the Partnership’s goal to recover the Sound to health by 2020. The House  and Senate could not agree on final language, and the bill died with the close of session on March 13.

Legislation on Evergreen Cities / Stormwater--APPROVED
The legislature approved a bill which establishes a new program to encourage cities and counties to preserve and restore trees in urban areas (HB 2844).    The rapid loss of urban trees is closely linked to major stormwater problems in Puget Sound.   Stormwater is the number one source of pollution in the Sound and loss of trees has dramatically increased urban runoff in many areas.  The legislation calls for an inventory of all urban forests as well as the development  of “model” tree preservation ordinances and plans.   The bill also creates incentives for local governments to move forward on the issue.

Study on HPA Effectiveness-- FUNDED
The final budget includes $135,000 for the Department of Fish and Wildlife to study the effectiveness of the state Hydraulic Code.  We worked to get a larger budget for a more comprehensive study, but the tight budget year and the looming budget shortfall for next year resulted in this study being trimmed back.

 Click here to read PI reporter LIsa Stiffler's quick digest of how the environmental community's issues fared.

People For Puget Sound's Legislative Policy Team:
Naki Stevens & Bruce Wishart | 360.754.9177