Natural resource agencies merger bill introduced

Legislation to create a new state Department of Conservation and Recreation was introduced Friday in Olympia.

Senate Bill 5669 merges the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Recreation Conservation Office into a single agency.

The bill was introduced by several Democrats at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The measure makes the director of the new agency answerable to the governor. Currently, the state Fish and Wildlife Commission oversees the state wildlife director and the Parks and Recreation Commission hires and fires the state parks director.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission would become advisory.

The companion bill in the House is HB 1850.

Bryan Irwin, executive director of the Coastal Conservation Association in the Northwest, said he has not yet seen the 376-page bill, but does not want the Fish and Wildlife Commission reduced to an advisory body.

“The commission was put there by citizen mandate (Referendum 45 in 1995),” Irwin said. “Maintaining the authority of the commission is our No. 1 legislative priority.”

Larry Snyder, president of the Vancouver Wildlife League, said his group has not yet taken a formal position, but likely will oppose the merger.

“Here we go back to the old way,” Snyder said.

A hearing on SB 5669 before the Senate Natural Resources and Marine Waters Committee is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Senate Hearing Room No. 2 of the Cherberg Building on the capitol campus.