FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 2771

                          C 28 L 94

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Allowing permits for practice fire suppression.

By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Chappell, Brumsickle, Chandler, Sehlin, Hansen, L. Thomas, McMorris, Fuhrman, Dyer, Schoesler, Sheahan, Holm and Basich).

House Committee on Local Government

Senate Committee on Ecology & Parks

Background:  Both the federal and state governments have Clean Air Acts regulating air pollution.

Under the state Clean Air Act, an active air pollution control authority is created in every county with a population of 125,000 or more, and an inactive air pollution control authority is created in every other county.  The county legislative authority may adopt a resolution activating its inactive air pollution control authority.  The county legislative authorities of two or more contiguous counties may merge any combination of active or inactive air pollution control authorities.

A local air pollution control authority or, where a local authority is inactive, the Department of Ecology issues permits for setting fires.  Fire fighters who wish to set structures on fire for fire fighting instruction purposes must first obtain a permit from the local authority or the Department of Ecology.

Summary:  Without obtaining a permit from the local air pollution control authority or the Department of Ecology, fire protection district fire fighters may set fire to structures for instruction in methods of fire fighting.  The structures must be located outside of urban growth areas in counties that plan under the Growth Management Act, and the structures must be outside of cities with a population of 10,000 or more in other counties.

These fires are subject to the following:  (1) other applicable permits and licenses must be obtained; (2) the fire may not be located in an area declared to be in an air pollution episode or any stage of impaired air quality; (3) the fire is subject to nuisance laws; (4) notice of the fire must be provided to owners of adjacent property; (5) structures that are to be set on fire must be identified; and (6) the structures must be inspected for the presence of asbestos, and any asbestos found must be removed.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  97 0

Senate 49 0

Effective:  June 9, 1994