(1) The airport impact mitigation account is created in the custody of the state treasury. Moneys deposited in the account, including moneys received from the port of Seattle for purposes of this section, may be used only for airport mitigation purposes as provided in this section. Only the director of the department of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee may authorize expenditures from the account. The account is subject to allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW, but an appropriation is not required for expenditures.

     (2) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall establish a competitive process to prioritize applications for airport impact mitigation assistance through the account created in subsection (1) of this section. The department shall conduct a solicitation of project applications in the airport impact area as defined in subsection (4) of this section. Eligible applicants include public entities such as cities, counties, schools, parks, fire districts, and shall include organizations eligible to apply for grants under RCW 43.63A.125. The department of community, trade, and economic development shall evaluate and rank applications in conjunction with the airport impact mitigation advisory board established in subsection (3) of this section using objective criteria developed by the department in conjunction with the airport impact mitigation advisory board. At a minimum, the criteria must consider: The extent to which the applicant is impacted by the airport; and the other resources available to the applicant to mitigate the impact, including other mitigation funds. The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development shall award grants annually to the extent funds are available in the account created in subsection (1) of this section.

     (3) The director of the department of community, trade, and economic development shall establish the airport impact mitigation advisory board comprised of persons in the airport impact area to assist the director in developing criteria and ranking applications under this section. The advisory board shall include representation of local governments, the public in general, businesses, schools, community services organizations, parks and recreational activities, and others at the discretion of the director. The advisory board shall be weighted toward those communities closest to the airport that are more adversely impacted by airport activities.

     (4) The airport impact area includes the incorporated areas of Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, SeaTac, Tukwilla, Kent, and Federal Way, and the unincorporated portion of west King county.

     (5) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall report on its activities related to the account created in this section by January 1, 2004, and each January 1st thereafter.

[2003 1st sp.s. c 26 § 928.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- Effective dates -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 26: See notes following RCW 43.135.045.