[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6107349,"mediaKeyId","2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013","parentId",2776541,"title","Committee hears support for switching DNR aquatic-lease inflation metric from PPI to CPI in SB 5656","audioSeconds",628,"startMs",1455000,"endMs",2083000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013&start=1455&end=2083","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013/thumbnail_1455000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107349/Washington/Committee-hears-support-for-switching-DNR-aquatic-lease-inflation-metric-from-PPI-to-CPI-in-SB-5656","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107349-1b96af777c8964450294986e037f2ae2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176101&Signature=dvFrfbRT-ADebqNX3cg3heZgmB0SnPjtGOQMQeZXJJdNfrl-Yt-MZvN0JwbRJUZ1fnLaL168e5lzLl6I6tAGjE-oEvYQWBu~WfZVgIvFsgjGQJzar9qmn9M~djzpgqWVe3tWIe~8WRcLm0CkoUMQxb7sd1NxIfwV83Rs6IiEtbxLJBjfpt7-XrB~usPbsG6xXa1Rr3ib-IFUA~TCa~yFvEpjJNPUnreqgcKOstDDFruG2mCCf1BFnLMCCS65xrH8mn5yZG4uvz~BP1HcQtG-0TBn8HiWT24mixuVK-iRH8aBHDMup0vFa1GM24Ub2gI8BUG5rvFdoql6tQz2eMBXwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 5656 would change the inflation metric the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) uses to adjust annual water‑dependent lease rents from the Producer Price Index (PPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), using a Seattle‑area CPI series.

DNR staff and marina‑industry witnesses told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee the PPI has been more volatile than CPI, producing large year‑to‑year swings that make budgeting difficult for marinas and other lessees. The agency said the change would not alter the underlying water‑dependent rent calculations or long‑term revenue, only the annual adjustments between four‑year revaluations.

Lily Smith, committee staff, briefed members that SB 5656 is closely aligned with House substitute bill 1758 and that both use a Seattle‑area CPI. She and Thomas Gorman, Aquatic Resources Division Manager for DNR, noted the PPI has ranged over the past 30 years from about negative 8% to positive 16%, while CPI has ranged roughly from 0% to 9%; over decades the two indices average out.

Senator Deb Krishidassen, the prime sponsor, described coastal communities in her district as heavily water‑dependent and said the CPI change would offer lessees more predictable rent increases for long‑term planning. Thomas Gorman testified for DNR in support, saying the change would provide more certainty for both DNR and lessees.

Stakeholders from the marine economy supported the change. Roman Daniels Brown of the Northwest Marine Trade Association urged adoption as a way to stabilize marina budgeting; Taryn Todd, marina manager at Foss Harbor Marina in Tacoma, said the PPI drove a 16% increase on her lease in May 2024 and that the volatility left her team only weeks to adjust budgets. She and others said switching to CPI would improve predictability and support investment in marinas and services for recreational boaters.

Committee staff and witnesses said the change is chiefly about annual volatility; over 20–30 years long‑run revenue to DNR should be similar under either index. No committee vote or amendment was recorded in the transcript during the public hearing.

Ending: The committee closed public testimony and moved on; proponents argued the amendment would aid planning for marinas and coastal businesses without materially altering long‑term DNR revenue.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture & Natural Resources - 3/26/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5656 would change the index DNR uses to adjust annual water‑dependent lease rents from the Producer Price Index to the Consumer Price Index (Seattle area), a change DNR and marina operators said would reduce year‑to‑year volatility and improve budgeting predictability.","taxTitle","Agriculture and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20253,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107354,"Witnesses, counties and producers urge revisions to proposed DNR reclamation fee increases in SB 5319",1453,0,1453000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013&start=0&end=1453","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6107354/Washington/Witnesses-counties-and-producers-urge-revisions-to-proposed-DNR-reclamation-fee-increases-in-SB-5319","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107354-0cb74dcd8838236a1afdb3ad03bb157c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176101&Signature=ThkwN4qQgE317BOWOIhw8p46qlk9sm0T7kr3OLvrcNZ2fzUN8UVIZOv9A15ZEl2o2JhFA2SHk~R0SZnR2xWj9N7jzZ-5GjT-q-WJ2FBzug7r8gvFUuDVkIujdxFF4~d~M6-WXcBdNSShFG34ZyFOA08E~Gxl2WlUFm0-~L7nPBZuSuTb~OoaDSjCcyIeUSGonJOuXKqpToRdy7W8mmtrRWvvh9Kd~V3nMHUMC8Y--9S4uR~rjmlNZwpCj0338ZIu6jGCPrfdSZoRSrp4j9gY2mtfzwDuHXa5RrGisqXlBcaSEo4MuiiUrF6j~wp3vfGGF0Crr9AkMY2Qn1Y4f8hWaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5319, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) request bill to revise the fee structure for surface-mine reclamation permits, drew extensive public testimony arguing the proposal would disproportionately burden small and rural aggregate producers.

Supporters and DNR staff said the program is fee-supported and that fees have not been raised in about 10 years. The Department and an advisory committee recommended a flat-rate update now before the Legislature to sustain inspection and reclamation work.

Opponents — including multiple small producers, county engineers and local economic development officials — told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee the flat increase would force closures of low‑production pits, raise local construction costs, and hollow out rural tax bases. Several witnesses suggested alternatives: tiered fees based on tonnage, the number of employees, or restoring a $1,000 cap on public-works pits.

Erica Odom, appearing for DNR, summarized the agency’s position that the reclamation program is “entirely fee supported” and that fees “haven’t been increased in about 10 years,” and she noted the department’s five regionally based field inspectors aim to visit each permitted mine annually.

Michael Transcuh, representing the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association, said his trade association participated in the advisory process and supports Senate Bill 5319, arguing that permit workload does not vary by quarry size and that reclamation is essential to the life cycle of mines. He thanked Senator Shoemake and Representative Springer as prime sponsors and urged committee support.

Multiple small operators and county representatives opposed the flat-rate approach. Jim Durr (Copenay River Construction) said many of his roughly 10 pit locations in eastern Washington operate at very low production and that an annual maintenance fee of $3,500 for pits that “don’t hardly produce any gravel” would force many to close; he said closures could push haul distances from local projects from “about 25 miles” to “50 to 75 miles,” increasing costs for public works and private buyers.

Axel Swanson with the Washington State Association of County Engineers urged a return of a $1,000 cap for public-works mines, noting counties manage more than 25,000 gravel and dirt roads and that exemptions for small county mines have existed for nearly 30 years. He described surface-mine regulation as a “partnership” between counties and DNR.

Tim Hemphill, co-owner of Hemphill Brothers and Lane Mountain Company, said his businesses hold three annual reclamation permits and employ 55 people; he estimated the proposed change would add $4,500 annually for his operation and described the change as an additional burden layered onto recent cost increases tied to state policies.

Corey Hedrick, vice president of Versatile Industries, said many rural sources produce between “30,000 tons per year, or in some cases even less,” and called the flat fee inequitable because a single large metro quarry producing millions of tons would pay the same flat fee as multiple small rural quarries. He said Versatile would pay $3,500 for each of six Washington quarries — about $21,000 annually — although combined output is roughly 100,000 tons, and proposed a tiered structure based on employee count or tonnage.

Representative questions focused on the makeup of industry membership, production thresholds used in current law, and whether exemptions or caps remain for public-works mines. Committee staff explained that the bill removes distinctions based on mine output (previous exemptions applied only to public-works mines under current law).

Local economic-development leaders and a Port official from Pend Oreille County emphasized the broader community impact of losing aggregate sources: Jessica Garza (Port of Pend Oreille) said the county has already lost multiple industrial employers and warned that eliminating exemptions could further harm rural economies that rely on local pits to keep infrastructure projects affordable.

No formal committee action or vote was recorded in the transcript; testimony concluded with committee members noting consistent requests from witnesses for a graduated fee approach and saying they would consider amendments.

Ending: The committee closed the public hearing and moved to the next agenda item. The record shows multiple suggested amendments (tonnage-based tiers, employee-count tiers, restoration of a $1,000 cap for certain public-works mines) and sustained concerns about rural impacts, but no formal vote was taken during the hearing.","Senate Bill 5319, a Department of Natural Resources request to raise and restructure surface‑mine reclamation fees, prompted strong opposition from small and rural aggregate producers, county engineers and local economic‑development officials who said a flat fee hike would disproportionately hurt low‑production pits and raise local construction costs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6107344,"Bill would let DNR civil burn‑permit decisions be appealed to Pollution Control Hearings Board, sponsors say",301,2063000,2364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013&start=2063&end=2364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2776541-afb0e54a1865b1771b5223413fb20013/thumbnail_2063000.jpg","/articles/6107344/Washington/Bill-would-let-DNR-civil-burnpermit-decisions-be-appealed-to-Pollution-Control-Hearings-Board-sponsors-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107344-140c9f3c75f76e0cc17763337ba61001/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176101&Signature=L-NeViEu-daGiEHobfWl2WpSsZWK3vLTcYflTZac71YwC~Rbmm4e7799DnoK7L5V85CvHRMLN~iOtxbuHN4bkArEBL4E6dEiNaapCMoIHrQ0hE69PB19N2mBDy1gSpueznOpNcYuvaYqdEx2D0AU4k4ekHqLqPg~sjVKJFsJcDjjWoXcZjT~b9~tc1BBmVvZv6tDtsxjOhQiwcZepvDeyROXQ4KHxNxtmnhMXcaMTRguJDfJUb3~GwikzwUn2MTvuK1LMLfWTKUz3VmDzmrOYGM2LMtqRyt3KmfWn3CEqTOWhe~h1xv5uRGJhmzwb5jS6Ifb0UfT74QiRGs1ppc77Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 5334 would allow appeals of Department of Natural Resources (DNR) civil enforcement decisions relating to agricultural and cultural burning and smoke management to be heard by the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB), rather than only within DNR’s internal procedures.

Committee staff briefed members that the bill is a DNR request and is a companion to House Bill 1646. Senator Shelley Short, the prime sponsor, said the change creates an external appeal option similar to processes used by Ecology, conservation districts, local health jurisdictions and Fish & Wildlife.

Erica Odom, Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs at DNR, testified in support and described SB 5334 as a “good government bill” that provides an independent administrative tribunal for those contesting alleged violations of civil burning and smoke management statutes.

No witnesses testified in opposition; the transcript shows only agency support and a single staff briefing. The committee closed the public hearing with committee staff reading into the record the names of those signed in and noting no further business for the day.

Ending: The bill remains at the public hearing stage; the transcript records agency support and sponsor remarks but no committee action or vote during this session.","Senate Bill 5334 would permit appeals of DNR civil enforcement decisions on burning and smoke‑management matters to be reviewed by the Pollution Control Hearings Board, creating an independent administrative appeal channel instead of only internal agency review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears support for switching DNR aquatic-lease inflation metric from PPI to CPI in SB 5656

Witnesses, counties and producers urge revisions to proposed DNR reclamation fee increases in SB 5319

Bill would let DNR civil burn‑permit decisions be appealed to Pollution Control Hearings Board, sponsors say