HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 5746

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                    Environmental Affairs

Title:  An act relating to encouraging compliance with environmental protection measures.

Brief Description:  Modifying requirements for compliance with environmental protection measures.

Sponsor(s):  Senators Barr, Hansen, Owen, Hayner, McMullen, Anderson, Newhouse, Oke, Patterson, Thorsness, Rasmussen and Vognild.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Environmental Affairs, February 21, 1992, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Horn, Ranking Minority Member; Edmondson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brekke; G. Fisher; J. Kohl; Neher; Pruitt; D. Sommers; Sprenkle; and Van Luven.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The Department of Ecology is responsible for enforcing the state's air, water, and solid and hazardous waste laws.  In general, the department is required to enforce violations when they occur.

In 1988, state law was enacted directing the Department of Ecology to develop a waste reduction program to provide technical assistance to entities interested in reducing the amount of solid or hazardous waste they generated.  The law specifically prohibited employees of the program from issuing citations, notices, or civil penalties.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The Department of Ecology is authorized to appoint one or more technical assistance officers to provide on-site consultation to businesses for the purpose of helping businesses comply with environmental regulations.  The technical assistance officer may report violations to others within the department, but cannot issue violations unless persons or property are at risk.

The state, department, and technical officers are not liable for technical assistance given or for lack of technical assistance.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  The striking amendment makes technical and grammatical changes; these changes have no effect on any of the substantive provisions of the bill.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  None.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  None.