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Organization — Southeastern New England Comprehensive Water and Related 



Land Resource Study 



COORDINATING GROUP 



Chairman : Chairman, New England River Basins Commission. 



States: State of Rhode Island and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 



Federal : Department of Army, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, 

 Education, and Welfare, Department of Housing and Urban Development, De- 

 partment of Interior, and Federal Power Commission. 



Executive Secretary : Staff member, NBRBC. 



State of Washington Seacoast Management Act — Third Draft 



Section. 1. The legislature finds that the seacoast of the State of Washington 

 is a unique and valuable natural resource, affording to its citizens the oppor- 

 tunity to engage in many activities not available in other areas ; that this sea- 

 coast is a delicate mechanism profoundly affected by slight changes in physical 

 and ecological factors ; and that the optimum utilization of this resource requires 

 a careful consideration of these factors and a coordinated effort to develop the sea- 

 coast in such a way that all the various uses are provided for to the fullest extent 

 possible, and in such a way that they will complement each other. It is therefore 

 declared to be the policy of this state that the seacoast be treated as a unit to 

 maximize its value to all citizens, whether individual, corporate, or municipal. 



Section 2. To implement this policy, the Environmental Quality Department is 

 directed to promote the orderly multiple-use development of Washington's sea- 

 coast. Such uses shall include, but shall not be limited to, spawning grounds 

 and habitat for fish, shellfish, water fowl, and other wildlife ; tourist facilities ; 

 aqua-culture ; the various recreational uses ; commercial development of ports 

 and industry ; and individual and multiple-unit residential development. In the 

 event of conflicting uses, and insofar as possibe, the uses to be preferred shall 

 be those that promote and enhance the interests of the public health, safety, 

 and welfare, shore preservation, pollution control, and preservation of natural 

 beauty. In all cases, those uses unique to or dependent upon the seacoasts shall 

 be preferred over those that can be located elsewhere. 



Sec. 3. Definitions. — As used in this act, unless the context indicates other- 

 wise : 



(1) "Director" means the director of the Environmental Quality Department. 



(2) "Department" means the Environmental Quality Department. 



(3) "Seacoast" means marine waters and their beds, harbor areas, tidelands, 

 and adjacent upland areas for a width of 1000 feet from the line of mean high 

 tide, or for the lowland area subject to marine water fiowage, or as needed to 

 create a zone of sufiicient size to be reasonably suited to the stated purpose, 

 whichever is greatest. 



(4) "Coastal counties" and "coastal cities" mean those counties and incor- 

 porated cities which contain, within their limits, any seacoast subject to this 

 act. 



(5) "Agency" means any officer or any administrative or organizational branch 

 of state government, regardless of its particular oflicial designation. 



Sec. 4. The provisions of this act shall not apply to : 



(1) Those seacoast areas outside of the region extending from the mouth 

 of the Columbia River or Cape Disappointment, along the Pacific Ocean, 

 around Cape Flattery, and along the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the entrance 

 to Puget Sound or Pt. Wilson, and including all contours, bays, points, and 

 other features of such region. 



(2) Indian lands, when such provisions are in confiict with any treaty 

 or statute of the United States. 



Sec. 5. Guidelines and regulations adopted pursuant to this act may cover, 

 to the extent deemed necessary by the adopting or promulgating body, any use 

 or alteration of the seacoast. Such uses and alterations shall include removing 

 sand, gravel, trees, vegetation, or other shore and bed material; building any 

 structure ; discharge of sewage, industrial waste, or other contaminant ; grading, 

 filling, dredging, or lagooning ; and the operation of boats and ships. 



Sec. 6. The department shall adopt basic guidelines for seacoast development. 

 These guidelines shall be general policies applicable to all seacoast areas subject 



