FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6781

                         PARTIAL VETO

                          C 147 L 00

                      Synopsis as Enacted

 

Brief Description:  Modifying provisions concerning the management of dairy nutrients.

 

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen and Morton).

 

Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development

House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology

 

Background:  The Department of Ecology currently administers a dairy nutrient management program established in 1993.  The program regulates discharges to state waters from dairy farms.  In 1998, the Dairy Nutrient Management Act enhanced the Dairy Nutrient Manage­ment Program to include specific goals and schedules, as well as penalties for noncompliance by set deadlines.

 

Under the Dairy Nutrient Management Act of 1998, each dairy farm in the state is required to develop a dairy nutrient management plan by July 1, 2002, and to fully implement the plan by December 31, 2003.  If dairy farms do not meet deadlines, an additional fine of $100 per month per violation is to be assessed.  These fines are in addition to any fines assessed for water quality violations.

 

The 1998 legislation included the formation of a Dairy Nutrient Advisory Committee.  This committee was vetoed and the veto message directed the Department of Ecology to form an advisory committee.  In 1999, a Dairy Nutrient Task Force that includes four legislative members was created to examine specified issues relating to the Dairy Nutrient Management Program.  Authority for the task force expired on December 31, 1999.  The task force has reported to the Legislature, as required, on the implementation of the Dairy Nutrient Manage­ment Program.

 

The task force=s report identified several issues of concern and proposed action for each issue identified.  It is felt that continued task force involvement would aid implementation of the Dairy Nutrient Management Program.

 

Summary:  The Dairy Nutrient Management Task Force is created and terminates June 30, 2004.  It supplements the existing membership on the task force with those members of the advisory committee that were not previously on the task force (a representative of a local health department, commercial shellfish growers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service).  The three active dairy farmers are replaced with four dairy industry representatives.

 

By September 1, 2000, the Department of Ecology must report to the task force on the disposition of penalties from dairy producers for violations of chapters 90.48 and 90.64 RCW.  By September 1, 2000, the Office of Financial Management must provide recommendations to the task force on ways to provide adequate funding through June 30, 2004, for the Dairy Nutrient Management Program to meet statutory deadlines.

 

By December 31, 2000, the task force must provide recommendations to the department and to the Legislature related to implementation of the Dairy Nutrient Management Act.

 

Staff support is provided by the Conservation Commission.

 

Votes on Final Passage:

 

Senate 414

House970(House amended)

Senate (Senate refused to concur)

House980(House amended)

Senate 450(Senate concurred)

 

Effective:March 27, 2000

 

Partial Veto Summary:  The Governor vetoed section 4 which would have required the Office of Financial Management to recommend how to provide adequate funding for the Dairy Nutrient Management Program.