S-4158               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5028

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senator Kreidler

Read first time 1/24/86 and referred to Committee on Parks & Ecology.

AN ACT Relating to ground waters; adding a new section to chapter 90.44 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     It is the intent of the legislature to protect ground water quality in the state.  Two and one-half million people in the state rely on ground water for domestic needs.  Threats to the quality of this water are numerous, and an effective ground water quality protection program is essential.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 90.44 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of ecology shall identify all ground water withdrawals in the state.  On or before January 1, 1988, the department of ecology shall assess a twenty-five dollar annual fee on all ground water withdrawals in the state.  The annual fee shall be deposited in the ground water protection account, hereby created in the state treasury, and used exclusively for:

          (1) Gathering data on geology and ground water quality and quantity;

          (2) Mapping of aquifers;

          (3) Monitoring and building a data base on contamination and sources of contamination;

          (4) Organic laboratory capability;

          (5) Management and planning assistance to local governments;

          (6) Public information and education on ground water protection;

          (7) Enhancing the permit process and permit enforcement; and

          (8) Administrative activities essential to these functions.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     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.