S-4362               _______________________________________________

                                         SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL NO. 5026

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senator Kreidler)

Read first time  2/7/86.

AN ACT Relating to hazardous waste; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     Currently farmers have no appropriate economically feasible means of legally disposing of small amounts of hazardous waste, including pesticides with uses canceled or restricted after purchase.

          The department of ecology shall prepare and submit a report to the legislature no later than January 1, 1987, which describes and assesses the nature of this problem in the state.  The department, in preparing this report, shall consult with an advisory group including representatives from the department of agriculture, a public interest group, an environmental organization, and a public health organization and three representatives from agriculture organizations.  The report shall include the following information:

          (1) A survey of the amounts and kinds of hazardous wastes to be disposed of by farmers.  The department of ecology shall work with the department of agriculture and state-licensed pesticide consultants and dealers, Washington State University, and the cooperative extension in survey work conducted to carry out this section.

          (2) A study of the possibilities for recycling, treatment, or disposal of these wastes in cost-effective ways that protect the environment and public health.

          (3) Liability for the recycling, treatment, or disposal of the wastes.

          (4) A suggested program to be supervised by the department of ecology for collection of small quantities of hazardous waste from farmers, these wastes to be recycled, treated, or disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.  Planning for this program shall include strategies for education of farmers and the public about hazardous waste disposal and the program, and a program of notification.  The department shall estimate costs and suggest means of funding.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     There is appropriated from the general fund to the department of ecology, for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, the sum of forty-nine thousand five hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to carry out the purposes of this act.