SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1019

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES,

                                 APRIL 2, 1991

Brief Description:  Allowing fees for efforts to prevent aquifer depletion.

SPONSORS:House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Brough, Haugen, Mitchell and Ferguson).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Oke, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Conner, Owen, Snyder, and Sutherland. 

Staff:  Gary Wilburn (786‑7453)

Hearing Dates:March 21, 1991; April 2, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Aquifer protection areas are financing mechanisms that voters can authorize to finance water quality activities and water quality improvements.

Voters in aquifer protection areas can authorize the imposition of fees on the removal of water and fees for on-site sewage disposal within the aquifer protection area, that are expressed in terms of a dollar amount per household.  The fees are used to finance water quality activities and facilities, including: (1) preparation of a comprehensive plan to protect and rehabilitate subterranean water; (2) construction of various facilities, including sanitary sewage facilities and stormwater sewer facilities; (3) the reduction of special assessments used to finance such facilities; and (4) monitoring and inspecting on-site sewage disposal systems.

SUMMARY:

Aquifer protection area laws are altered to include a statement that the depletion of subterranean water is of great concern and poses a threat to the safety and welfare of the citizens of this state.

Aquifer protection area fees may be used to finance the construction of water systems and the costs of monitoring the quality and quantity of subterranean water, to implement the comprehensive plan that is developed to protect subterranean water, to enforce compliance with standards and rules relating to the quality and quantity of subterranean waters, and for public eduction relating to the protection and enhancement of subterranean waters.  It is clarified that use of the fees to prepare a comprehensive plan to protect and rehabilitate subterranean waters includes a ground water management program adopted under Chapter 90.44 RCW.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

It is clarified that fees from local aquifer protection areas may be used to fund an ongoing plan as well as a new plan.

TESTIMONY FOR:

A funding source is needed to implement groundwater management plans, since state grants are only sufficient in many cases for the initial planning.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Jean Marie Brough, original sponsor (pro); Dan Chasan, Vashon Groundwater Advisory Committee (pro); Stan Miller, Spokane County Public Works (pro); Tom Waltz, Intergovernment Resource Center, Clark County (pro); Linda Hoffman, Thurston County (pro)