[Capr-announce] SB 5225

[Frank M Penwell]

FYI, Per Steve N's suggestion for people to write letters regarding SB5225,
I have sent the below letter to the people listed below.  If you have time,
please send a note.

 

Frank M. Penwell
1/25/2011

537 Spruce Street

Friday Harbor, WA  98250

 

Senator Kevin Ranker
Friday Harbor, WA  98250
(360) 786-7678
 <mailto:Kevin.Ranker at leg.wa.gov> Kevin.Ranker at leg.wa.gov

 

Re: SB 5225

 

            Dear Senator Kevin Ranker and Senate Committee on Labor,
Commerce & Consumer Protection members,

            I am sorry that I am not able to come to Olympia to testify
against this bill, however, I have several concerns regarding 5225 SB,
titled AN ACT Relating to soil and wetland scientists:

 

1.) It goes against the intent of the recent Executive order of President
Obama regarding "Scientific Integrity".  Regulations need to be grounded in
rigorously peer reviewed science and done by qualified individuals.  This
bill does NOT help that process and intent.   If I choose to pay $900 and
take a wetland class to become a certified "Wetland Specialist," I would not
really be qualified to be making the determinations that are essential to
quality work.  Do you really want individuals with very little training
making wetland determinations and decisions?

2.) Why are we changing the current process and rules?  There is a current
process in place that is working, so what are the motivations for lowering
the standards that are currently in place?

3.) How are we going to pay for the costs associated with this bill?  Other
states are consolidating their boards and streamlining their processes due
to economic hard times. With our current budget deficit, you should be
focusing on fiscal responsibility, finding ways to be more efficient, and
keeping integrity in the sciences.

4.) The basic inaccuracies leading up to, and stated in this Bill, need to
be investigated.  For example, one is led to believe that there are no
existing requirements, yet the geologist licensing board has established
requirements, especially for “near surface hydrology” which is really
subsurface hydrology, which for wetlands is ground water hydrology (and
unsaturated zone hydrology, which is not wetlands.   Washington State
standards have already been established for the study of ground water by the
geologist licensing board for the specialty license of hydrogeology, which
has been required by state law since 2002.  

 

            I urge you to NOT support this bill as it is currently written.

 

Sincerely,

 

Frank M Penwell

 

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection members and
contact information:

Senator Steve Conway
Democrat
Tacoma
(360) 786-7656
Steve.Conway at leg.wa.gov

Senator Mike Hewitt
Republican
Walla Walla
(360) 786-7630
Mike.Hewitt at leg.wa.gov

Senator Janéa Holmquist
Republican
Moses Lake
(360) 786-7624
Janea.Holmquist at leg.wa.gov

Senator Karen Keiser
Democrat
Des Moines
(360) 786-7664
Karen.Keiser at leg.wa.gov

Senator Curtis King
Republican
Yakima
(360) 786-7626
Curtis.King at leg.wa.gov

Senator Adam Kline
Democrat
Vancouver
(360) 786-7696
Adam.Kline at leg.wa.gov

Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7670
Jeanne.Kohl-Welles at leg.wa.gov

 

 

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