FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1039

                                   C 17 L 89

BYHouse Committee on Natural Resources & Parks (originally sponsored by Representatives Haugen, S. Wilson, R. King, May, Zellinsky, Spanel, Horn, Jones, Leonard, Heavey, P. King and Phillips)

Providing oil dump and holding tank pump station information to boaters.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

The growth in Washington's recreational boater population has raised environmental concerns, including concerns about pollution of the state's waterways through illegal discharge of sewage and petroleum products.

Oil refuse can be collected and recycled under a Department of Ecology recycling program.  Because direct discharge of raw sewage is illegal, sewage must be treated by an approved marine sanitation device before discharge, or held in a holding tank to be pumped out on shore.

Some, but not all, of the marinas in the state have oil dumping or sewage pumpout facilities.  The State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Department of Ecology have created a flier containing information about the laws and programs relating to sewage treatment and oil recycling.  The flier also lists the marinas that have sewage pumpout and oil dumping facilities.  These two agencies, however, have no method of providing this information to all boaters.

In Washington, state boat licensing regulations require annual boat registration with the Department of Licensing.

SUMMARY:

The State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Department of Ecology are required to prepare written information about the locations of marine oil refuse dumps and holding tank pumping stations.  This information must be provided, in a form ready for distribution, to the Department of Licensing. Whenever the Department of Licensing issues either a notice to renew a vessel registration or decals for new or renewed vessel registrations, it must also provide the boat owners with the information on the location of marine oil refuse dumps and holding tank pumping stations.  The three agencies must enter into a written agreement to implement this process.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 95   0

      Senate    46     0

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989