AN ACT Relating to the waste water commission; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making an appropriation; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes and declares it to be a state policy that it is a fundamental right of the people of the state of Washington to live in a healthful environment. The legislature further recognizes that the need to provide for our increasing industrial, agricultural, residential, recreational, economic, and other needs will place an increasing responsibility on all segments of our society to plan, coordinate, restore and regulate the utilization of our water resources in a manner that will protect and conserve our pure and abundant waters.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise:

(1) "Commission" means the waste water treatment commission;

(2) "Department" means the department of ecology; and

(3) "Waste water" means water which has been contaminated by discharge of any liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substance such as is likely to render the waters harmful, detrimental, or injurious to the public health.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A state waste water treatment commission shall be appointed to achieve the purposes of this chapter. The commission shall be composed of fifteen members appointed by the governor as follows:

(1) Three members shall be representatives of cities of over one hundred thousand population from a list recommended by the association of cities;

(2) Three members shall be representatives of cities of under one hundred thousand population from a list recommended by the association of cities;

(3) Four members shall be representatives of counties from a list recommended by the association of counties and county officials;

(4) Three members shall represent sewer districts from a list recommended by the sewer district association;

(5) One member shall be a representative of the department of ecology, recommended by the director of that agency; and

(6) One member shall be a representative of the department of fisheries, recommended by the director of that agency.

At least four members of the commission shall reside east of the crest of the Cascade range.

Four additional nonvoting legislative members shall be appointed, two from the senate and two from the house of representatives, with two from each political party.

The chairperson of the commission shall be elected from among the members. The commission shall meet on call of the chairperson or on request of a majority of its members, but not less than four times per year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Members of the commission shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department of ecology shall provide support services to the waste water treatment commission.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. In addition to any other powers and duties contained in this chapter, the commission shall have the powers and duties:

(1) To adopt such rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of chapter 34.04 RCW, as it deems necessary and consistent with the purposes and intent of this chapter;

(2) To approve allocations for any funds available from the state for waste water treatment, including, but not limited to plant design, treatment methodology, and discharge requirements;

(3) To develop priority criteria for the approval process of standards for effluent quality and sludge disposal;

(4) To develop estimates of costs for a six-year plan, including resources from all sources, to clean up known pollution of Washington state waters;

(5) To hire an executive secretary to perform the administrative duties of the commission at a salary to be established in accordance with RCW 43.03.040; and

(6) To make an annual report on January 31st to the governor and legislature on the operations of the commission with recommendations for improvements to waste water treatment procedures.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. This chapter expires July 1, 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. Sections 1 through 7 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of one hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the state waste water treatment commission for the purposes of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.