House passes Nelson’s first two bills: good news for the environment

February 19, 2008 

OLYMPIA – Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the first two bills sponsored by Rep. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island) since her appointment as state representative in November.

House Bill 2530, which requires the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to study the effectiveness of the Hydraulic Project Approval (HPA) process, passed unanimously.

“With the passage of this bill, we are taking a big step in the right direction towards making the hydraulic project approval process more effective,” said Nelson.

The study outlined in Nelson’s bill must consider the effectiveness of legislative enactments, the implementation by the WDFW, and the impact that historic funding levels have had on the HPA program's effectiveness.

House Bill 3186, which allows the formation of beach management districts, passed by a vote of 85 to 10.

“This bill will provide a tool for the residents of Fauntleroy to deal with the ongoing problem of rotting sea lettuce in Fauntleroy Cove,” said Nelson.  “Lake management districts have been successfully used in the past to clean up lakes with overgrown vegetation, and this bill will enable the cleanup of Fauntleroy Cove and other polluted beaches.”

Nelson’s bill will allow state agencies to work together to assist beach management districts. The coordination efforts among agencies will increase efficiency and minimize impact on marine life.

Both bills now go to the Senate for further consideration.