FINAL BILL REPORT

                                   SJM 8012

                             AS PASSED LEGISLATURE

Brief Description:  Petitioning the United States state department to appeal to British Columbia to stem the flow of raw sewage into the strait of Juan de Fuca.

SPONSORS:Senators Talmadge, Conner, Metcalf, Thorsness, McMullen, Oke and Craswell.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

BACKGROUND:

The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a unique international waterway boundary between Canada and the United States.  The Strait provides economic, social and environmental links between the Province of British Columbia and state of Washington.

The cities in the state of Washington have invested millions of dollars in protecting the water quality by upgrading to secondary treatment of their wastewater effluent before discharging it into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The industries in the state have similar million dollar investments in wastewater treatment facilities to protect the Strait from contamination.   

In British Columbia, across the international waterway, the Victoria area municipalities discharge raw sewage containing toxic chemicals and heavy metals, into the Strait, from an estimated 230,000 residents.  Current plans are to extend the sewage outfall line into the Strait, adding to the water quality concerns in Washington State.

The concerns of the state should be addressed by the International Joint Commission (IJC).  The IJC advises Canada and the United States on issues involving boundary waters.

SUMMARY:

The Washington State Senate and House of Representatives, through the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, and its Governor and to the Congress, Secretary of State and its President, petition that the United States Department of State appeal to the Department of External Affairs of Canada, to protect the Strait of Juan de Fuca and begin efforts to cease the dumping of raw sewage into the Strait.

The Memorial calls on the State Department to request the IJC to investigate the problem in accordance with the boundary waters treaty.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

Senate      44    4

House 97    0