Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Environmental Health Committee |
SB 5767
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Making nonsubstantive changes clarifying outdoor burning provisions of the Washington clean air act.
Sponsors: Senators Rockefeller, Pridemore, Regala and Shin.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
Hearing Date: 3/18/09
Staff: Pam Madson (786-7111)
Background:
The Washington Clean Air Act (CAA), enacted in 1967, authorizes the Department of Ecology and local air pollution control authorities to regulate air quality. The CAA has been amended since its enactment and some provisions including limits on outdoor burning of residential yard waste, land clearing debris, agricultural material such as crop residue, and controlled burning in forests are found in different sections of the law.
Summary of Bill:
The CAA provisions on outdoor burning are restructured to improve clarity and include technical changes, deleting obsolete references, and updating language references. No provision may be construed as a substantive change.
The CAA outdoor burning provisions are consolidated and reorganized for codification in a new “Outdoor Burning” subchapter. Outdoor burning laws are reorganized based on the following part designations:
Part 1 - Outdoor burning - General provisions
Part 2 - Outdoor burning - Program
Part 3 - Residential and land clearing burning
Part 4 - Agricultural burning
Part 5 - Silvicultural burning
Part 6 - Aircraft crash rescue and other firefighter training
Part 7 - Outdoor burning - Other
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.