Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects.

 S-1032.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5155

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Senate Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Salomon, Shewmake, Chapman, Hasegawa, Liias, Nobles, and Wellman)

READ FIRST TIME 01/31/25.

AN ACT Relating to extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects; amending RCW 77.55.480 and 43.21C.515 ; creating a new section; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that in 2021 the legislature created the habitat recovery pilot program to streamline project permitting for habitat restoration projects that have been determined to contribute to the recovery of watersheds throughout the state. The legislature also finds that the pilot project's intent to advance projects to construction as quickly and efficiently as possible has been realized, with projects experiencing time and cost savings by utilizing the streamlined process. It is the intent of the legislature to make this permit pathway an option and not to replace or supplant current permit requirements.

(2) Therefore, the legislature intends to make the pilot program permanent and to improve the streamlined process.