SB 6339-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Revises provisions relating to growth management planning and decisions and provides integration with related environmental laws.

     Improves procedures for cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

     Allows growth planning hearings boards to appoint hearings examiners to carry out board functions, including issuing recommended decisions.

     Revises local government development regulatory provisions.

VETO MESSAGE ON SB 6339-S

                   April 1, 1994

To the Honorable President and Members,

  The Senate of the State of Washington

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am returning herewith, without my approval as to section 10, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6339 entitled:

"AN ACT Relating to facilitating growth management planning and decisions, integration with related environmental laws, and improving procedures for clean-up of hazardous waste sites;"

     This is very valuable legislation introduced as part of the state's efforts at regulatory reform. It increases the authority of Growth Planning Hearings Boards to use hearings examiners and allows the Department of Ecology to enter into agreed orders with potentially liable parties under the Model Toxics Control Act. It allows local governments to continue to impose impact fees to pay for needed public facilities and requires local governments to adopt time limits for development permitting and to notify applicants for permits. The legislation has the effect of making the regulatory process more flexible for businesses while retaining the state's ability to protect the environment and local decision-making. It also pushes local governments to increase the predictability of local permitting while retaining local flexibility over how to meet these requirements.

     Section 10 of the legislation amends RCW 70.105D.020 of the Model Toxics Control Act which is also amended in section 2 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6123. While both sections include identical definitions of the term "agreed order," the amendment in Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6123 contains additional new language. To avoid a double amendment of this statute, I am vetoing section 10 of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6339.

     With the exception of section 10, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 6339 is approved.

                   Respectfully submitted,

                   Mike Lowry

                   Governor