SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6173

BYSenators Warnke, Rasmussen and Niemi

Regulating sludge landspreading.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1990

Senate Staff:Atsushi Kiuchi (786-7708)

AS OF JANUARY 23, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The application of sewage sludge to lands for beneficial use or final disposal are sludge management activities currently practiced by local government entities with wastewater treatment plants.  Public concerns have been raised based on potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment from these activities.

Land application and disposal of sludge is regulated under the state Solid Waste Management Act.  The issuance of permits for the beneficial use of sludge is a local health government responsibility with oversight by the Department of Ecology.

SUMMARY:

Definitions:  "Landspreading" means applying sludge or solid wastes onto or into soil for the purposes of utilization or disposal. "Sludge" means a semi-solid substance consisting of settled sewage solids combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials generated from a wastewater treatment plant, septic tank system, or other source.

SEPA Requirement:  Upon application to a local health jurisdiction for a sludge landspreading permit, the applicant shall complete a site specific environmental impact statement until such time as the new federal and state regulations for safe use and disposal are adopted.  Permits issued prior to September 2, 1989 are exempt.

Mitigation:  Adverse off-site or long term impacts shall be addressed by the applicant.  Mitigation requirements may be included in the permit to include community infrastructure improvements such as roads, parks, open space and utilities.  Counties may adopt rules requiring community mitigation plans to provide short and long term enhancement for projects larger than 100 acres in size.

Public Hearing:  A public hearing is required for any landspreading site larger than 100 acres.

Fee:  Counties may impose a fee of up to $1 per ton of sludge to be paid by the owners or operators of the lands used for sludge landspreading.  The fee will go into a county sludge regulation and mitigation account.  Fee exemptions include:  sites less than 100 acres; where there is no substantial increased workload for local governments; and where there are no adverse off-site or long-term impacts.

Study:  The Department of Ecology shall submit a report to the Legislature by December 1, 1990 on alternative methods for sludge utilization and disposal.  Specific recommendations shall be made for mitigation of adverse impacts to project area citizens and methods to reduce heavy metals and pathogens in sludge.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 18, 1990