SENATE BILL REPORT

SHB 1136

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Environment, Energy & Water, March 22, 2001

Title:  An act relating to product standards.

Brief Description:  Regarding product standards.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Schoesler, Wood, Ahern, Gombosky, Cox, Grant, Doumit, G. Chandler, Rockefeller, Linville, Schindler, Mulliken, Buck, Mastin, McMorris, Benson and Eickmeyer).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Environment, Energy & Water:  3/16/01, 3/22/01 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & WATER

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Regala, Vice Chair; Eide, Hale, Honeyford, Jacobsen, McDonald and Morton.

Staff:  Richard Rodger (786‑7461)

Background:  The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prepare guidelines for the procurement by federal agencies of items containing recovered materials.  The guidelines adopted by the EPA designate items that are or can be made with recovered materials and whose procurement by agencies will carry out the objectives of the federal act, as determined by the EPA.

The EPA=s product standards for a number of materials have been adopted by statute for state purchases, unless the director of the Department of General Administration finds that different standards would significantly increase recycled product availability or competition.  Included among these products standards are those for building insulation.  These standards apply to recycled product purchasing by state agencies and may be used by local governments in making purchases.

Summary of Bill:  By July 1, 2001 the director of the Department of General Administration must adopt product standards for strawboard and for products made from strawboard.  The straw in the strawboard is to be that produced as a by-product in the production of cereal grain, turf or grass seed.  The list of products for which the product standards of the EPA are adopted by reference, unless modified as authorized, includes all building products and materials, not just building insulation.

The state entities that make their recycled product purchases in conformity with these standards now expressly include state postsecondary educational institutions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2001.

Testimony For:  There is currently an increasing supply of straw in our state due to the reduction in the burning of agricultural fields.  Straw can be used for several different commercial purposes including the generation of energy (through burning), construction material, particle board, paper production, and compost.  We need to provide additional markets and incentives for the use of straw products.  This bill will encourage state agencies to purchase materials made from the excess straw resulting from the production of cereal grains, turf, and grass seed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Representative Mark Schoesler, prime sponsor; David Bauermeister, PNW Fibre.