HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  SB 6098

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to solid waste permit renewal.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for solid waste permits.

Sponsors:  Senators McAuliffe and Swecker; by request of Department of Ecology.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/19/96, 2/22/96 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Koster, Vice Chairman; Chappell, Ranking Minority Member; Linville, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Delvin; R. Fisher; Honeyford; Johnson; Mastin; Murray; Ogden; Regala; Robertson; Rust and Schoesler.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  Local health jurisdictions are responsible for issuing permits to solid waste facilities.  In issuing permits, the local health department must determine if the solid waste facility meets the local health and zoning requirements, the local solid waste management plan, and all applicable state and federal solid waste laws and regulations. 

Summary of Amended Bill:  Local health jurisdictions are authorized to renew permits for solid waste handling facilities for a period of one to five years.  The decision on the duration of the permit is to be determined by the local health jurisdiction issuing the permit.  A solid waste facility must be issued a permit prior to making any substantial change.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The substitute bill clarifies that a local health jurisdiction can permit all solid waste facilities on a less than annual basis, not just landfills and incinerators.  It also clarifies that a facility must receive a permit prior to making any substantial change. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  It would be burdensome to require local health jurisdictions to hold public hearings for each solid waste permit issued.

Testimony Against:  It is good public policy to require local health jurisdictions to hold public hearings prior to issuing permits.

Testified:  Mike Ryherd, Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Authority; Gary Ewing, Northwest Waste Industries; Jeff Gage, Washington Organic Recycling Council; and Bill Vogler, Washington State Association of Counties (all in favor).