SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6560

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

               Ecology & Parks, January 30, 1996

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:  Senators Fraser, Swecker, Hochstatter, Rasmussen, Sutherland, Fairley, Spanel and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Ecology & Parks:  1/23/96, 1/30/96 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6560 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Fraser, Chair; Hochstatter, McAuliffe, Spanel and Swecker.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background:  The Department of Ecology is responsible for overseeing water well construction.  The department's duties include a licensing program for well drillers, a notification program for proposed wells and abandoned wells, and construction standards for drilling and decommissioning wells.

In 1992, legislation was passed to allow the Department of Ecology to delegate administration and enforcement of well sealing, well tagging, and well decommissioning to local health districts and counties.  At the request of a local health district or county for delegation, the Department of Ecology must confirm that the county or health district has the resources, capability and expertise to run the program.  The department and the county or health district may then enter into a memorandum of agreement to define the specific authorities delegated.  Currently eleven counties operate water well programs under delegation from the department.   

The authority to delegate elements of the water well program expires June 30, 1996.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The authority to delegate elements of the water well program is extended to June 30, 2000.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  It is clarified that Ecology may only delegate authority in accordance with the water well construction chapter.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The delegation has been very effective by integrating well drilling inspections with other county regulatory functions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rick DeRemer, Mike Matson, WA State Drilling of Ground Water Assn. (pro); Gregg Grunenfelder, Statewide Env. Health Directors (pro); Dave Clark, Olympia DOH (pro).