WHEREAS, it is the policy of this administration to develop and promote agricultural activities; and
WHEREAS, in order to develop and promote agricultural activities, agricultural lands must be preserved; and
WHEREAS, agricultural land is being lost to other uses; and
WHEREAS, state and local governments operate under various laws, regulations, policies and programs that affect decisions on agricultural land and growth management; and
WHEREAS, local government is in the best position to make the primary decisions affecting the preservation of farmlands; and
WHEREAS, the continuing loss of agricultural land requires closer attention by state agencies; and
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of this administration that much can be accomplished under the framework of existing laws and regulations to protect farmlands without the necessity of creating a new bureaucracy,
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dixy Lee Ray, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby direct as follows:
Every state department, commission, board or other agency of state government making decisions affecting the siting of energy facilities, disposal facilities, transportation systems or utility corridors and agencies making decisions on environmental and/or land use permits, shall consider farmland preservation when making decisions and, in addition, give due regard to local government planning, zoning, or other local government agricultural land protection programs.
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, I
have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the State of Washington to be affixed at Olympia this 4th day of January A.D., Nineteen hundred and eighty. Dixy Lee Ray |
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BY THE
GOVERNOR: Assistant Secretary of State |