Z-0332.1           _______________________________________________
                                  SENATE BILL 5308
                   _______________________________________________
State of Washington               56th Legislature             1999 Regular Session
By Senators Jacobsen, Hargrove, Gardner, Swecker, Fraser and Oke; by
request of Commissioner of Public Lands
Read first time 01/19/1999.  Referred to Committee on Natural
Resources, Parks & Recreation.
     AN ACT Relating to a study of sand, gravel, and rock resource
mining and its impact on salmon habitat and urban development; creating
new sections; making  appropriations; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 1.  Over the next twenty years the state's
population is expected to increase by two million people.  As the urban
and suburban development related to this growth spreads into the rural
and resource lands, more mineral resources such as sand, gravel, and
rock will be needed for the construction of homes, shopping centers,
commercial and industrial facilities, and roads.  At the same time,
this growth will utilize the land base that may contain these deposits.
Current evaluations indicate that existing mines will not be able to
meet the future demand for sand, gravel, or rock.  Current development
patterns and land use regulations limit the opportunity to open new
mines or to expand existing mines.  Therefore, the legislature finds
that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the state to
identify known sand, gravel, and rock deposits that are environmentally
acceptable for resource production and assure that efforts are
undertaken to protect these resources from uses incompatible with
mineral extraction so there will be a future supply of these resources.
     In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to mine sand
and gravel resources from rivers and their floodplains.  Current and
past practices of mining from rivers and their floodplains may impact
the state's effort to recover threatened and endangered anadromous and
freshwater fish.  Therefore, the legislature finds that it is in the
best interest of the citizens of the state to study the impacts of
sand, gravel, and rock resource extraction methods on the habitat needs
of anadromous and freshwater fish.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 2.  The department of natural resources is
directed to prepare a report to the legislature identifying the status
of sand, gravel, and rock deposits, and recommending zoning and
extraction practices.  In preparing the report, the department shall
evaluate existing information.     The report shall include the following:
     (1) An evaluation of the impacts of sand and gravel excavation in
floodplains on the spawning and rearing habitat of salmonid and
freshwater species;
     (2) A recommendation on whether additional controls are needed for
sand and gravel extraction in floodplains to protect fish resources;
     (3) An evaluation of the expected life of known and designated sand
and gravel deposits within an economically viable transport distance
from major urban areas;
     (4) An evaluation of current sand, gravel, and rock consumption and
projected sand, gravel, and rock consumption trends for the next fiftyyears;
     (5) An evaluation of alternative sources of aggregate supply
including recycling, reuse, conservation opportunities, and quarriedrock; and
     (6) A recommendation to local governments on mineral resource
designation standards to protect known deposits of sand, rock, and
gravel to meet projected supply needs.     This section expires June 30, 2000.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 3.  (1) The sum of fifty thousand dollars,
or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2000, from the general fund to the department of
natural resources for the purposes of this act.
     (2) The sum of fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be
necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001,
from the general fund to the department of natural resources for the
purposes of this act.
     {+ NEW SECTION. +}  Sec. 4.  If specific funding for the purposes
of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not
provided by June 30, 2000, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act
is null and void.                                     --- END ---