HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2733

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to well construction.

Brief Description:  Extending for four years the authority to delegate portions of well drilling administration and enforcement to local governments.

Sponsors:  Representatives Johnson, Sheldon, Koster, Honeyford, Linville, Boldt, McMahan, Hymes, Stevens, Cooke, Mulliken, McMorris, Hargrove and Elliot.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  1/31/96, 2/1/96 [DPS].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 16 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Koster, Vice Chairman; Chappell, Ranking Minority Member; Linville, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Delvin; R. Fisher; Honeyford; Johnson; Murray; Ogden; Regala; Robertson; Rust and Schoesler.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  In 1992, legislation was enacted that permits certain qualified local agencies to administer portions of the state's water well construction laws.  Upon request, the Department of Ecology (DOE) is authorized to delegate to the governing body of a health district or county the power to administer and enforce the well sealing, and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program.    Well tagging was expressly added to these delegable authorities in 1993.

This express authority to delegate is scheduled to expire June 30, 1996.  

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The expiration of the express authority granted to the DOE to delegate portions of the well construction program to qualified health districts and counties is postponed to June 30, 2000.  With regard to such a program administered by a local agency, the agency may exercise only the authority delegated to it under these well construction laws.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Added by the substitute bill are the provisions identifying the authorities that may be exercised by a local agency when administering the delegated program.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The delegation program has worked well.  It should be continued.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Johnson, prime sponsor; Gregg Grunenfelder, Local Environmental Health Directors; and Rick DeRemer, Washington Well Drillers' Association (in favor).