HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1039

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

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (7)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Chair;K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Beck, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle,R. Fisher, Raiter and Sayan.

House Staff:Jean Kelley McElroy (786-7196)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 9, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The continuing rise in Washington's recreational boater population generates a need to respond to environmental concerns associated with a growing community of boaters.  Boating activity can contribute to 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.  Since 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 put together a flier containing information about the laws and programs relating to sewage treatment and oil recycling.  The flier also lists the marinas which 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:

Amends RCW 88.02.050 to require the State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Department of Ecology to prepare written information about the locations of marine oil refuse dumps and holding tank pumping stations.  They will provide this information, 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 about how to implement this process.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Nina Carter, State Parks and Recreation Commission.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The boaters need this information.  The agencies are in agreement about how to do this, and have actually started to provide this information.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.