S-1319.1          _______________________________________________

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8012

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Talmadge, Conner, Metcalf, Thorsness, McMullen, Oke and Craswell.

Read first time February 13, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.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.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE HONORABLE BOOTH GARDNER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, The strait of Juan de Fuca is an international waterway and represents an international resource; and

     WHEREAS, This resource is threatened by the dumping of raw sewage carrying toxic chemicals and heavy metals; and

     WHEREAS, Victoria, British Columbia, maintains a waste management policy that permits the dumping of raw sewage into the strait from municipalities totaling two hundred thirty thousand residents; and

     WHEREAS, Washington cities south of the border are implementing secondary sewage treatment systems costing millions of dollars; and

     WHEREAS, Secondary treatment makes good ecological sense and helps to ensure good public health; and

     WHEREAS, The international joint commission operating under the boundary waters treaty of 1909, advises Canada and the United States on boundary water disputes;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States state department make an appeal to the department of external affairs of Canada to join in a cooperative effort to protect the strait of Juan de Fuca, and to begin the necessary steps to cease the dumping of raw sewage into the strait.  We further call on the state department to request the international joint commission investigate the problem in accordance with the boundary waters treaty.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.