Subject: New State Bill To Help Birds and Other Wildlife (corrected with working links)

Dear Tweeters,


I have complained several times on Tweeters and to everyone else who will listen about the toll that improperly discarded monofilament fishing line has on birds and other wildlife. I have picked up fishing line by the handfuls at many birding and fishing sites and have rescued several birds. Sometimes the rescue attempts were successful and sometimes they were not.



I have been working with others to get get a fishing line recovery and recycling program started in Washington State. Twenty-four states and 6 countries have monofilament fishing line recovery and recycling programs, but Washington State does not, even with our miles and miles of waterways.



Last week, Senator Mark Mullet (my state senator) introduced a new bill to establish a state pilot program. The bill is being heard in a senate legislative committee on Tuesday. See details below.



This is an opportunity to help birds and other wildlife and your support is needed!



Diane Weinstein

Issaquah

___________________________________________________________________________________



A hearing on SB 6080, (Concerning a fishing line or monofilament recycling pilot program), is scheduled for:

Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at 1:30 pm

Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

The meeting schedule is subject to change, please verify the date and time by selecting the Energy, Environment, and Telecommunications committee agenda for January 21 at http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/calendar.aspx

This bill is to mandate that a pilot program be implemented for the recovery and recycling of monofilament fishing line at established fishing areas, boat ramps, and other interested locations. The bill can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ Enter bill number 6080.

Carelessly discarded monofilament fishing line can present a serious threat to humans, wildlife and the environment. Birds and wildlife can become entangled resulting in strangulation, starvation, amputation, and death. Fishing line is transparent in water and can present a grave risk to swimmers and divers.

The bill will be introduced to the Energy, Environment, and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Erickson.

Here's what you can do--your help IS needed!

Please try to attend the hearing and bring any others who also support the bill. When signing in, please record that you support the bill by checking the (pro) box.

If you would like to testify please limit your comments to one to two minutes. Please address the chair person, who will be Senator Erickson, and committee members.

If you would like to provide written testimony please give your written comments to the committee staff when you enter the hearing room. Please bring 18 copies for committee members and staff.

If you cannot attend the hearing and wish to submit comments by email, you may do so. Please be sure to reference the bill number (SB 6080), the bill's name (concerning a fishing line or monofilament recycling pilot program), and your name, address, and affiliation (if any). Please be very brief.

A few sentences expressing your support for the bill and asking committee members to pass the bill out of committee is all that is needed. You may direct your comments by email to: Adam.Day at leg.wa.gov Adam is Senator Mullet?s legislative assistant and he will submit your comments to the committee members.

Contact your state Senators and Representatives asking that they support SB 6080. http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/ or call 800.562.6000.