FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1649

                         C 307 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Updating municipality water discharge fees.

Sponsor(s):  By House Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representative Rust; by request of Department of Ecology and Office of Financial Management).

House Committee on Environmental Affairs

House Committee on Revenue

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Background:  Initiative 97, approved by the voters in 1988, includes a provision directing the Department of Ecology to establish a fee schedule for pollution discharges for which the discharger has a permit.  The initiative directs the department to establish an initial fee schedule by March 1, 1990.  The fee schedule may be adjusted every two years.  The fees are to be based on the complexity of permit issuance and compliance.  They may also be based on the level and toxicity of the pollutants discharged.  The fees are to be set to fully recover the department's costs in processing permits, conducting inspections, obtaining laboratory analysis, and reviewing plans.  In April 1990, the department adopted the fee schedule.

The initiative sets a maximum fee that may be imposed on municipal domestic wastewater facility permits.  The fee may not exceed five cents per residence per month.

Summary:  The maximum fee for municipal domestic wastewater facility permits is increased to 15 cents per residence per month.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  64   34

Senate 27   20

Effective:  July 28, 1991