HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 115

BYRepresentatives Rust, Allen, Brekke, May, Walker, Nutley and Lux

Providing for single authority to be responsible for solid waste management and eliminating city comprehensive solid waste management plans.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Jesernig, Lux, May, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

All local governments are required to prepare solid waste management plans.  The plans must include:  (1) an inventory of existing facilities, waste types and quantities of wastes; (2) a 20-year projection of future facility needs and future waste generation; (3) a program for developing additional facilities, if needed, in a manner consistent with other local plans; (4) a program of surveillance and control; (5) an inventory of current collection needs and operations, including a projection of needs for the next six years; and (6) a review of potential sites that meet specified siting criteria.  All plans must be reviewed and approved by the Department of Ecology.

Each county is required to establish a local solid waste advisory committee to assist in developing solid waste programs and policies.  The committees consist of nine members and include representatives of public interest groups, business, the waste management industry and local elected officials.  Members are appointed by the county legislative authority.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Every county and the cities within the county must prepare a coordinated comprehensive solid waste management plan.  To accomplish this task, the county and the cities must enter into an interlocal agreement that 1) designates a local government entity to serve as lead agency responsible for plan preparation, 2) provides for joint financing of the plan and 3) delineates the responsibilities of the various jurisdictions for plan preparation and implementation.

The plan must designate a single entity that will have the authority to designate, operate, and manage, regulate and set rates for solid waste disposal facilities covered by the plan.

No jurisdiction may prepare an independent plan unless authorized by the comprehensive plan.

Each jurisdiction covered by the plan must adopt or reject the plan within six months of completion of the plan.  The plan will be forwarded to the Department of Ecology for approval unless the jurisdictions representing a majority of the population reject the plan.  If these jurisdictions reject the plan, or if a plan is not prepared, the Department of Ecology will adopt a plan for the county and the cities within the county.

Local solid waste advisory committees are no longer limited to nine members.  Members are appointed by local elected officials, and one small city and all cities that operate solid waste disposal sites are guaranteed a position on the committee.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill allowed counties to prepare plans for cities; the substitute bill provides for coordinated planning through an interlocal agreement process.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     League of Women Voters of Washington; Association of Counties; King County.

House Committee - Testified Against: Association of Cities; Port Angeles City Manager.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Proper management of solid waste is a very expensive task.  In order to accomplish effective and efficient solid waste management there is a need for coordinated planning between counties and cities.  Current law allows the cities to avoid long term solutions to the problem.

House Committee - Testimony Against: Cities would lose current authority to prepare independent plans.  The bill attempts to fix something that is not broken.