SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6378

         AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, FEBRUARY 10, 1992

Brief Description:  Decriminalizing the escape of animal wastes from farm vehicles crossing small ferries.

SPONSORS: Senators Barr, Vognild and Patterson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6378 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators Patterson, Chairman; Nelson, Vice Chairman; von Reichbauer, Vice Chairman; Barr, Erwin, Hansen, Madsen, Sellar, Skratek, Snyder, Thorsness, and Vognild.

Staff:  Vicki Fabre (786‑7313)

Hearing Dates: February 5, 1992; February 10, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Current law requires vehicles driven or moved on public highways to be constructed or loaded to prevent loads from "dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping" from such vehicles.  Because state ferries are an extension of the public highway system, this requirement applies to loads of cattle carried on state ferries.

Due to the exposure of passengers and vehicles to cattle waste matter and delays caused by having to clean the ferry dock, the state ferry system on the Keller Ferry route has prohibited the hauling of any cattle loads that are not totally self-contained.  This has resulted in a hardship to cattle haulers who are dependent on this service.

SUMMARY:

Vehicles hauling live farm animals, when crossing a ferry transporting fewer than 25 vehicles, are exempt from load containment requirements.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Language is added which clarifies that the vehicle carrying capacity of ferries transporting livestock must be fewer than 25 vehicles.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Keller Ferry in Ferry County is located in the center of Washington's "cattle country" and is vital to the movement of livestock.  Alternate routes for transporting livestock are not feasible for safety and economic reasons.  Exempting livestock hauled on this small state ferry from load containment requirements is essential to the economic welfare of the region.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Exempting live animal transports on small state ferries from load containment requirements will require ferry workers to clean up animal wastes resulting from such transports.  State ferry workers feel it is unreasonable to require them to clean up animal waste and believe cleanup should be the responsibility of those who haul livestock.

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Marlyta Deck, Cattlemen's Assn.; Kenneth Coyl, Steve Katich, Gail and Henry Kuehne, K.O. Rosenberg, Tom Casey, State Grange; CON:  T.K. Bentler, Inland Boatmen's Assn.; NEUTRAL:  John Conrad, DOT