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2009 Washington State Legislative Session Wrap-up
The Nature Conservancy once again worked with the Washington state Legislature in 2009 to promote smart policies and budget priorities that do good for Washington’s rich natural heritage. We were pleased to collaborate on broad priorities with the broader environmental community through the Environmental Priorities Coalition. This was a difficult session due to severe state budget deficits. Following is a summary of the results of our efforts. Feel free to contact us with any questions. A special “thanks” goes to everyone who called their representatives in Olympia this winter.
Efficiency First: Was adopted and money was included in the budget to implement the new building codes for energy efficiency. New public buildings are required to meet new energy standards. Climate Change "Cap and Invest": Did not pass. Transit-oriented Communities: Was not adopted, but one element of the proposal - reducing vehicle miles traveled - is a consideration for the allocation of grant funds for public works projects. Invest in Clean Water: Was not adopted. This fee on petroleum refineries to pay for stormwater clean up may be considered in a later special legislative session.
The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program was amended to allow qualified non-profit conservation organizations and the state Conservation Commission to apply for grants for the farmland preservation and the riparian protection programs. The Washington Department of Natural Resources was authorized to form forest biomass energy cooperatives to develop two pilot biomass production projects. The state Climate Change Leadership bill initiates a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change. The bill requires:
Faced with forecasts of severe revenue shortfalls, the Governor and Legislature made many cuts in the state budgets. The state's operating budget cut the natural resource agencies by about 25%, the largest actual reduction taken by any area of government. We expect this to result in staff reductions, reduced enforcement of basic environmental laws, loss of scientific information collection and less stewardship and maintenance on public lands. The money for the Natural Heritage Program and the Natural Areas Program was reduced $1.5 million, eliminating all non-core maintenance and planning functions. The operating budget also created a work group to restructure the natural resource agencies to reduce costs and improve services. The most significant elements for native species and habitats in the two year capital budget were: 1. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program is funded at $70 million. This level will fund several projects
2. The Trust Land Transfer Program is funded at $100 million. This amount includes 34 projects totaling over 22,000 acres of state trust lands transferred into conservation status, including Dabob Bay and large blocks in the upper Skagit River and Snoqualmie area. Most of the projects were transferred as 50 year leases rather than fee. One of the most significant elements of this appropriation is the authority to use $4.2 million of the amount to purchase development rights from state trust lands subject to conversion to other uses to protect the timber land base and allow the Department of Natural Resources to purchase private forest lands and manage them at lower harvest rates -- a major policy change. 3. Real Property Replacement land at $75 million. This account purchases the replacement land connected to the Trust Land Transfer program (see #2 above). The account has built up a large fund balance from past years and a condition was placed on the appropriation that it must be used to buy timber land under threat of conversion to non-forest uses, and that acquired timber land must be managed at 75% of the expected harvest level. The money to compensate the school trusts for the lower harvest levels is the purchase of development rights included in the Trust Land Transfer Program -- a great achievement. 4. The Salmon Recovery Funding Board is funded at $10 million of state money and $60 million of federal money. Projects will be selected by the Board later in the year. 5. The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program is funded at $7 million. This level will complete about 4 of the 29 projects around Puget Sound, including Lily Point in Whatcom County. 6. The Aquatic Land Enhancement Account is funded at $5 million, $1 million of which benefits the Lily Point acquisition project. 7. Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration projects are funded at $33 million. This is in support of the Puget Sound Partnership's goals to protect and restore habitat - a significant priority for The Nature Conservancy and many others. 8. $20 million of Federal Stimulus funds for the Washington Department of Natural Resources to conduct forest health and ecosystem improvements on state lands. Plus $3 million of federal funds for the Washington state Recreation and Conservation Ofiice to award grants for habitat restoration. 9. $1 million was provided to the Department of Natural Resources for improvements on the Natural Area
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