New state law emphasizes ‘top-notch Puget Sound science’

When it comes to restoring the health of Puget Sound, what it really all comes down to ensuring sound science.

“We want to emphasize accountability and top-notch Puget Sound science in our work toward restoring and maintaining the health of this great natural resource,” state Rep. Fred Finn said today in noting that his House Bill 1997 will become the law of the state of Washington on July 26.

The measure requires that the Puget Sound Science Panel must create and implement a selective, top-quality scientific process for peer review of monitoring and research. The science panel provides advice to the Puget Sound Partnership, the agency responsible for restoring the Sound.

The legislation limits expenditures from the Puget Sound Scientific Research Account to research programs and projects selected through a process that has been developed and supervised by the panel. Finn explained that the bipartisan measure, which was unanimously passed by both legislative chambers, seeks to align use of the research account with the priorities of the panel.

David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership, said that the new state law “addresses accountability and science – both fundamental to our mission to restore and protect the Sound. This legislation puts the review of science where it belongs – in the hands of scientists – and confirms that the research process must be independent and rigorous. It also establishes a process for accountability for the Science Panel, whose members provide critical advice to the Partnership on recovering Puget Sound.”