2006 Issue #4 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

8/8/2019 2006 Issue #4 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society

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URGENT ACTIONLegislative Hotline:

1-800-562-6000

Contact your Senators today aask them to pass SSB 6175necessary to implement the

budget!

2006 Legislative Newsletter February 20, 2

Olympia Thursday, February16, 2006, Senate Bill 6175--concerning the regulation of

surface mining missed the house-of-origin cutoff and is still sittingon the Senate Floor Calendar. Thisbill can only pass the Senate ifdeemed necessary to implement

the budget.

The good new is that the SenateWays and Means Committeesproposed budget PSSB 6386,released on February 15, authorizes$851,000 from the surface miningreclamation account solely toimplement SSB 6175.

Without passage by the Senate, the

DNRs Surface Mine Reclamationprogram will shut down. Theprogram regulates how sand andgravel mines are returned to

Blake (D-19)ensuredunanimouspassage of HB2368 from theHouse. Thisbill will deterhunters fromillegal use oftoxic lead shot where prohibitionsexist to protect birds (see p.2)

Senators Rosemary McAuliffe (D1), Dave Schmidt (R-44), TraceyEide (D-30) and RepresentativesDave Quall (D-10) and Gigi

(Continued on page 6.)

wildlife habitat, parks, open-spaceand in appropriate cases,development.

Audubon supports SSB 6175because the permit fee structure fothe Surface Mine ReclamationProgram is outdated, the programsuffers from chronic under-fundingand related staff and budget cuts.

Without a solvent program, illegalmining will increase, technicalassistance for miners and localgovernments will cease, enforceme

(Continued on page 6.)

Audubon Washingtonbelieves in balance and

responsibility, findingcommon ground,andinvolving all citizens in

protecting the natural worldand our quality of life.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Breaking NewsPage 1

Policy Directors CornerPage 1

Audubon PrioritiesPage 2-3

Priorities for a Healthy WAPage 4-5

Budget PrioritiesPage 5

Other Issues: InvasiveSpecies CouncilPage 6

Spring ACOWPage 6

Chapter SpotlightPage 7

Hot Tips for AdvocacyPage 7

BREAKING NEWSSurface Mine Protectionsin Jeopardy

Audubons LegislativeChampions EmergeHeath Packard, Policy Director

With less than 20 days left in afrenetic 60-day legislative session,clear champions have emerged forAudubons legislative and budgetarypriorities.

Special thanks goes to the following

legislators for their attention to

conserving, viewing and learning

about birds, wildlife and habitat.

Representatives Brian Sullivan (D-21), Jim Buck (R-24) and Brian


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February 20, 2006 Page 2

Current Activity:Audubon Supportsfunding for two counties to host specificvoluntary, market-driven projects thatdemonstrate how a transfer of developmentrights program can be used to conservenatural resource and habitat lands.

HB 2368 did not make it out of the House

Appropriations Committee, but primesponsor Representative Brian Sullivan (D-21) isworking hard to achieve similar objectives through theoperating budget.

Background: More than 130 of the State's 317 birdspecies reside in forests. Of 93 vulnerable bird species inWashington, most rely on our forests.

Forest conversion, fragmentation, and degraded forest

health are the leading causes of forest habitat loss/degradation. Between 1970 and 1992 over 2 million acof forests were lost to permanent conversion.

Washington's private forestlands account for virtually aconversions and 76% of our annual timber harvests.Meanwhile, Washington's bird populations continue todecline despite 30 years of increasing state regulations

focused on water quality for state and private lands.To stabilize Washington's Forest Bird Populations, we

must curb the loss of habitat on State and private lands

Current Activity: Audubon supportsHB 2958, Penalizing persons who violaterules concerning the use of nontoxic shot.Thanks to sponsors RepresentativesBrian Sullivan (D-21), Jim Buck (R-24)and others, this bill unanimously passedthe House on Monday, Feb. 13.

Background:Of the 44,000+ waterfowl hunting licenses issued eachyear, WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife estimates 8% repeatoffender noncompliance rate. This equates to nearly3,500 hunters annually who are using toxic lead shot overwetlands.

A substantial proportion of the global populationaround16,000 birdsspends the winter in the Puget Soundlowlands.

In NW Washington/British Columbia since 1999, at lea1,200 Trumpeter Swans have died of lead poisoning froingestion of lead shotgun pellets when while foraging fgrit to aid digestion. A single pellet can kill a full-growswan in 30 days or less.

Using lead shot for waterfowl hunting in the U.S. has billegal since 1991. Exactly where swans are ingesting leis unknown. State/Federal agencies and The TrumpeterSwan Society are researching lead contamination toinstruct future clean up.

Legislative Hotline: 800-562-6000

Thank your Representatives forsupporting HB 2958!

Ask your Senators to vote yes on HB 295

Editors Note: For questions, comments, or concerns with this newsletter please contact

Audubon Washingtons Policy Office at 360-786-8020 ext. 201 or email [email protected].


Call your House Appropriations Committee Memband ask them to support Representative Sullivan

request for a TDR budget proviso!

Audubons 2006 Legislative PrioritiesCONSERVE WASHINGTONS FORESTS

Audubons 2006 Legislative PrioritiesREDUCE TOXIC LEAD SHOT

Pileated Woodpecker

Trumpeter Swans


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Current Activity: SSB 5005Supporting Nature BasedTourism did not pass the Senate before house-of-origincutoff last week. The bill would have provided an optionfor local jurisdictions to increase hotel/motel tax, forpayment to private landowners who provide opportunitiesfor nature tourism. We supported this because it promoteswatchable wildlife and helps farmers who permit bird

watching on their farms.

Good news for Watchable Wildlife is that the SenateWays and Means committee included a great little naturetourism investment in their proposed budget.

Background: Economic incentives to conserve wildlifecan help support thelong-term financial health ofWashington. How? Wildlife equals nature-tourism dollars.Research shows that 71 million Americans watch wildlife;46 million say theyre bird watchers. Over the past

decade, bird watching has become the countrys fastestgrowing form of outdoor recreation.

Wildlife tourism in Washington ranks seventh in thenation with prospects for growth enhanced by 2003legislation to promote sustainable rural economicdevelopment through maintaining wildlife diversity. In

2005 Audubon Washington, CTED, WDFW and StateParks agreed to develop and market wildlife watching iWashington.

Current Activity: Audubon supports SSB 6175, ReviseSurface Mine Act to sustain this essential program. Thisbill is now necessary to implement the budget, but mustpass the full Senate and move to the House! Urge yourSenators to pass SSB 6175 to keep Surface MiningReclamation Program solvent!

Background: Because of obsolete fee structures,Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) mining programis about to go bankrupt. Renewing enabling legislationand providing interim funding is critical to ensureappropriate reclamation of gravel mines.

Sand and gravel are necessary for our roads, homes andoffice buildings. Demand for such minerals grows withWashington's burgeoning population.

Mining for sand and gravel occurs in open-pit surface

mines that due toWashington's geologicalhistory are located in oradjacent to river, stream,riparian and wetlandhabitats. How these mines

are "reclaimed," returnedto habitat or othersubsequent uses, canfurther impact to birds and wildlife. If done well, newhabitat can be created.



Ask your Senators to vote YESon SSB 6175!


Thank your Senate Ways and MeansCommittee Members for supporting nature

tourism!

Audubons 2006 Legislative PrioritiesPROMOTE WATCHABLE WILDLIFE

Audubons 2006 Legislative PrioritiesENSURE SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION


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Current activity: Audubonsupports HB 1458 to improve septicsystem management in marineareas. HB 1458 passed the House70-26 on February 11th!

Background: Nutrient loading from failing septics is

causing low dissolved oxygen and ecosystem crashes thataffect birds and wildlife. We must Clean Up Puget Soundand reverse the loss of critical habitats for birds andwildlife. More than 100 species of birds inhabit PugetSound; 42 of these are considered vulnerable, and 29 arelisted as Species of Greatest Conservation Need inWashingtons Comprehensive Wildlife ConservationStrategy.

Species like the western grebes suffer a 95% population-decline, an indicator of the health of Puget Sound. One-

third of our shorelines have been damaged, with one-thof our eelgrass meadows and 75% of watershed wetlandestroyed. Toxic chemicals pour into the sound, andHood Canal and other inlets are suffering frominsufficient oxygen to support the food chain.

Governor Gregoires Puget Sound Initiative aims to

cleaning up Puget Sound by 2020. Audubon supports h$42 million supplemental budget proposal for PugetSound clean-up.

Current Activity: Most bad bills haveperished due to cut-offs. We continue toinfluence bills focused on:

Timelines for comprehensive planrevisions in growing communities shouldbe frequent so zoning and critical areascan accommodate growth and its

pressures.

Best Available Science is fundamental toplanning to protect people and propertythrough comprehensive plans. Clarifying

BAS will reduce appeals.

Agricultural Accessory Uses can be important to keepworking farms economically viable in our rural andsuburban communities.

Eminent Domain should not be abused for corporate

profitable gain, but should be maintained for the welfarof all Washingtons citizens.

For details about specific bills/positions contact KateJackson/Futurewise at (206) 343-0681.

Background: Washington's burgeoning populationgrowth (approx. 100,000 residents/year) requires new

roads, septic systems, housing, office buildings, factoriretail centers and parking lots. The Growth ManagemeAct helps local governments develop comprehensive plto manage urban growth, minimize sprawl and protectcitizen from landslides. The plans also protect birds andwildlife from uncontrolled urban and suburban sprawl.


Ask your Senators to support HB 1458

Ask you legislators to fully fund the $42million for Puget Sound clean up!


Ask your legislators to defend Land Use Protectioby voting only for land use bills approved by the

environmental community.

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonCLEAN UP PUGET SOUND

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonDEFEND LAND USE PROTECTIONS

Western Grebe


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Senate Ways and Means released theirproposed budget on February 15, 2006.Washington actually has a largerprojected revenue surplus than when theGovernor crafted her budget inDecember. The Senate has been able topropose modest increases in spendingover Gregoires budget while setting

aside more than the $900 million Gregoire proposed tosave for the next biennium.

Some highlights in the Senates budget include:

$96,000 Nature Tourism to support development of theGreat Washington State Birding Trail.

$851,600 Surface Mining Program necessary toimplement SSB 6175 concerning the regulation ofsurface mining.

$200,000 Invasive Species Council - necessary toimplement ESSB 5385 Invasive Species Council tocoordinate early response and control of dangerousinvasive species.

$300,000 Environmental Education Grants to getstudents outdoors learning about ecosystems, wildlife,forestry and agriculture.

$528,000 Aquatic Invasive Species prevention tofurther management of dangerous invasive species.


Current Activity: Support HB1488, Rep. Hunter

HB 1488 - passed the House, andwas heard in Senate Water, Energyand Environment committee.

SB 5515 - has died.

Background: This will remove theuse of chemicals penta and octa, by2007, and Deca by 2010.

Current Activity: Support SB 6428,Sen. Pridemore.

HB 2662 - has died.

SB 6428 - passed the Senate, washeard in House Natural Resourcescommittee, and is scheduled to get

out of committee Feb. 21.Background: This will promote ashared responsibility model.Manufacturers will establish and payfor the collection, transportation andprocessing system throughout WA,and retailers, charities, and localgovts may voluntarily participate.

Current Activity:Support HB2738, Rep. Holmquist/SB 6508,Sen. Rasmussen.

HB 2738 - passed the House, and washeard in Senate Water, Energy andEnvironment committee.

SB 6508 - passed the Senate, and washeard in Senate Tech., Energy andCommunications committee.

Background: This will grow a newbiofuels industry by including aminimum percentage of biofuels inthe statewide fuel mix, replacing2.5% of gasoline with ethanol and 2%of diesel with biodiesel.


Ask your House Appropriations CommitteMembers to support the Senate Budget

proposals, specifically the programshighlighted here.

For more informationabout each priority visi

www.environmentalpriorities.o

Priorities for a Healthy WashingtonPromote Renewable Fuels Launch Electronics Waste Recycling Eliminate Toxic Flame Retardan

Audubons 2006 Supplemental Budget Priorities


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Current Activity: In Washington State we are workinghard to address the problem of aquatic and terrestrialinvasive species through the creation of an InvasiveSpecies Council (ESSB 5385). This bill sets up a Councilof state and federal agencies, as well as stakeholders, soresources are maximized in invasive species preventionand control efforts. Setting up a Council in Washington

also allows us to work more closely with neighboring stateCouncils to lobby the federal government.

This bill was heard in committee and is scheduled to getout February, 21st.

Background: Invasive species are responsible for thelisting of nearly half of all threatened and endangeredspecies, cost our country over $130 billion a year, areexpected to be the leading cause of extinctions in NorthAmerican freshwater ecosystems, and according to theBLM, spread at a rate of at least 4,600 acres a day on

federal lands in the western U.S.

Tallcott (R-28) are leading the charge in support ofenvironmental education, ESHB 2910 which passed thHouse 79-19. Representative Quall was instrumental inegotiating a floor amendment on this bill that ensuredsupport from the Washington Farm Bureau, rounding the broad-based coalition behind this bill.

Senators Mark Doumit (D-19), Jim Hargrove (D-24and Karen Fraser (D-22) have given special attentionSB 6175 to ensure a solvent Surface Mine Reclamatioprogram at DNR (related story across and on p.3).

Senators Doumit, Hargrove and RepresentativesLynn Kessler (D-24) and Jim Buck are ensuringinvestments in nature tourism and bird-watchingindustries as well.

Thanks to the bi-partisan majority working hard on

Audubons legislative priorities!

Other Issues - Support the InvasiveSpecies Council

Audubons Legislative ChampionsEmerge contd

and compliance efforts willend, and surface mines willnot be reclaimed forappropriate subsequent useslike development, openspace, parks and most oftenhabitat.

The Senate must pass SSB 6175 to ensure equitable

and sustained revenues from permit fees, in order to

ensure an effective surface mine reclamation program

in Washington.

Surface Mine Protections in Jeopardycontd.


Ask your House Natural Resource Committeemembers to pass ESSB 5385!

Spring Forward with Audubon Council oWashington ~ March 24th - 26th

Kitsap Audubon will hostthe Spring 2006 meeting ofthe Audubon Council ofWashington (ACOW),March 24-26 at FortWorden in Port Townsend.

ACOW typically draws more than a hundred leadersfrom the 26 Audubon chapters across the State, plus thstaff of Audubon Washington. Meetings includeconservation and education updates, chapter reports, abanquet, guest speakers and special field trips. Kitsap hlined up nationally known wildlife photographer ClayTaylor and their local Swarovski representative to leadfield trip and presentation entitled "How to PhotographWildlife".

Visit http://www.kitsapaudubon.org/announce.htm for

registration and more information.


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We are now back to committeehearings as bills that are stillalive make their way through theother chamber. Below is a list ofHouse and Senate committeesthat typically hear our issues.

Sometimes we use targeted alerts for committeemembers, but it is always good to contact yourlegislators even if they do not sit on a certaincommittee, they may have a close friend that does!

Hot Tips for Advocacy - Who is on that committee?Lisa Remlinger, Field Coordinator

You can view other committees not listed here at:www.leg.wa.gov

Tahoma Audubon is the PierceCounty Chapter of NationalAudubon Society with over 1500members. This makes it one of thelargest chapters in Washington.

When they get involved in an issuepeople listen and that is hopefully what will happen as thechapter educates the public and legislators about the negat

impacts of the proposed Cross-base highway.

On February 16th, members of Tahoma Audubon attendedthe Transportation Lobby Day here in Olympia andadvocated for the passage of HB 2871, which would openopportunity to fund a wider variety of projects.

The proposed Cross Base Highway is a flawed transportatproject in its design, and it should not be funded. Thehighway is unnecessary, expensive and destructive.

For more information visit http://www.tahomaaudubon.or

crossbasehighway/.

Chapter SpotlightTahoma Audubon Speaks Up Against the Cross-bas

Highway.

House Natural Resources, Ecology, and Parks

Brian Sullivan - Chair (D)Dave Upthegrove (D)Jim Buck (R)Joel Kretz (R)

Brian Blake (D)Bruce Chandler (R)

Mary Lou Dickerson (D)William "Ike" Eickmeyer (D)Sam Hunt (D)Ruth Kagi (D)

Ed Orcutt (R)

Jeff Morris - Chair (D)Derek Kilmer (D)Larry Crouse (R)Larry Haler (R)Mark Ericks (D)Shirley Hankins (R)

Zack Hudgins (D)Toby Nixon (R)Pat Sullivan (D)Bob Sump (R)Dean Takko (D)Deb Wallace (D)

Geoff Simpson - Chair (D)Judy Clibborn (D)Lynn Schindler (R)John Ahern (R)

Brian Sullivan (D)Dean Takko (D)Beverly Woods (R)

House Technology, Energy, and Communications

House Local Government

Senate Natural Resources, Ocean, and Recreation

Ken Jacobsen - Chair (D)Mark Doumit (D)Bob Oke (R)Karen Fraser (D)

James Hargrove (D)Bob Morton (R)Harriet Spanel (D)Val Stevens (R)

Senate Water, Energy, and Environment

Erik Poulsen - Chair (D)Phil Rockefeller (D)Bob Morton (R)Jerome Delvin (R)Karen Fraser (D)

Jim Honeyford (R)Joyce Mulliken (R)Craig Pridemore (D)Debbie Regala (D)

Senate Government Operations and ElectionsJim Kastama - Chair (D)Jean Berkey (D)Pam Roach (R)Don Benton (R)Darlene Fairley (D)

Mary Margaret Haugen (D)Adam Kline (D)Bob McCaslin (R)Joyce Mulliken (R)Craig Pridemore (D)

Taken by N. McNair-Huff


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Audubon Washington is a partnership of the Washington state office of theNational Audubon Society and Washington's 26 independent Audubon Chapters.

Audubon Washington Policy Team:

1063 Capitol Way S; Ste 208Olympia, WA 98501(360) 786-8020

Mission of the National Audubon SocietyTo conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing onbirds, other wildlife and their habitats for the benefit ofhumanity and the earths biological diversity.


Admiralty Audubon

Black Hills Audubon

Blue Mt. Audubon

Central Basin Audubon

Discovery Coast Audubon

East Lake Washington Audubon

Grays Harbor Audubon

Kitsap Audubon

Kittitas Audubon

Lower Columbia Basin Audubon

North Cascades Audubon

North Central Washington Audubon

Olympic Peninsula Audubon

Palouse Audubon

Pilchuck Audubon

Rainier Audubon

San Juan Islands Audubon

Seattle Audubon

Skagit Audubon

Spokane Audubon

Tahoma Audubon

Vancouver Audubon

Vashon-Maury Isle Audubon

Whidbey Audubon

Willapa Hills Audubon

Yakima Valley Audubon

Heath PackardPolicy Director(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Lisa RemlingerField Coordinator(360) 786-8020 Ext [email protected]

Miguel Perez-GibsonPolicy Consultant(360) [email protected]

Share BEV with your friends and legislators by directing them to:wa.audubon.org/conservationpolicy_BirdsEyeViewNewsletter.html

Or sign-up for a free electronic version of BEV at:www.capitolconnect.com/audubon/myregistration.asp

Documents

2006 Issue #4 Bird's Eye View Newsletter Washington Audubon Society