BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to department of ecology biennial progress reports; and amending RCW 43.99F.040, 70.146.030, 90.48.465, and 90.50A.030.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 43.99F.040 and 1987 c 436 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

The proceeds from the sale of the bonds deposited in the state and local improvements revolving account, Waste Disposal Facilities, 1980 of the general fund under the terms of this chapter shall be administered by the state department of ecology subject to legislative appropriation. The department may use or permit the use of any funds derived from the sale of bonds authorized under this chapter to accomplish the purpose for which the bonds are issued by direct expenditures and by grants or loans to public bodies, including grants to public bodies as cost-sharing funds in any case where federal, local, or other funds are made available on a cost-sharing basis for improvements within the purposes of this chapter. The department shall ensure that funds derived from the sale of bonds authorized under this chapter do not constitute more than seventy-five percent of the total cost of any waste disposal or management facility. Not more than two percent of the proceeds of the bond issue may be used by the department of ecology in relation to the administration of the expenditures, grants, and loans.

At least one hundred fifty million dollars of the proceeds of the bonds authorized by this chapter shall be used exclusively for waste management systems capable of producing renewable energy or energy savings as a result of the management of the wastes. "Renewable energy" means, but is not limited to, the production of steam, hot water for steam heat, electricity, cogeneration, gas, or fuel through the use of wastes by incineration, refuse-derived fuel processes, pyrolysis, hydrolysis, or bioconversion, and energy savings through material recovery from waste source separation and/or recycling.

((The department of ecology shall present a progress report of actual projects committed by the department to the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on appropriations no later than November 30th of each year.)) Beginning with the biennium ending June 30, 1997, the department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the account to the chairs of the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on appropriations. The first report is due June 30, 1996, and the report for each succeeding biennium is due December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The report shall consist of a list of each recipient, project description, and amount of the grant, loan, or both.

Integration of the management and operation of systems for solid waste disposal with systems of liquid waste disposal holds promise of improved waste disposal efficiency and greater environmental protection and restoration. To encourage the planning for and development of such integration, the department may provide for special grant incentives to public bodies which plan for or operate integrated waste disposal management systems.

Funds provided for waste disposal and management facilities under this chapter may be used for payments to a service provider under a service agreement pursuant to RCW 70.150.060. If funds are to be used for such payments, the department may make periodic disbursements to a public body or may make a single lump sum disbursement. Disbursements of funds with respect to a facility owned or operated by a service provider shall be equivalent in value to disbursements that would otherwise be made if that facility were owned or operated by a public body. Payments under this chapter for waste disposal and management facilities made to public bodies entering into service agreements pursuant to RCW 70.150.060 shall not exceed amounts paid to public bodies not entering into service agreements.

Sec. 2. RCW 70.146.030 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 921 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The water quality account is hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be used only in a manner consistent with this chapter. Moneys deposited in the account shall be administered by the department of ecology and shall be subject to legislative appropriation. Moneys placed in the account shall include tax receipts as provided in RCW 82.24.027, 82.26.025, and 82.32.390, principal and interest from the repayment of any loans granted pursuant to this chapter, and any other moneys appropriated to the account by the legislature.

(2) The department may use or permit the use of any moneys in the account to make grants or loans to public bodies, including grants to public bodies as cost-sharing moneys in any case where federal, local, or other funds are made available on a cost-sharing basis, for water pollution control facilities and activities, or for purposes of assisting a public body to obtain an ownership interest in water pollution control facilities and/or to defray a part of the payments made by a public body to a service provider under a service agreement entered into pursuant to RCW 70.150.060, within the purposes of this chapter and for related administrative expenses. No more than three percent of the moneys deposited in the account may be used by the department to pay for the administration of the grant and loan program authorized by this chapter.

(3) ((The department shall present a progress report each biennium on the use of moneys from the account to the chairs of the committees on ways and means of the senate and house of representatives, including one copy to the staff of each of the committees.)) Beginning with the biennium ending June 30, 1997, the department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the account to the chairs of the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on appropriations. The first report is due June 30, 1996, and the report for each succeeding biennium is due December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The report shall consist of a list of each recipient, project description, and amount of the grant, loan, or both.

(4) During the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 1997, moneys in the account may be transferred by the legislature to the water right permit processing account.

Sec. 3. RCW 90.48.465 and 1992 c 174 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall establish annual fees to collect expenses for issuing and administering each class of permits under RCW 90.48.160, 90.48.162, 90.48.260, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090. An initial fee schedule shall be established by rule within one year of March 1, 1989, and thereafter the fee schedule shall be adjusted no more often than once every two years. This fee schedule shall apply to all permits, regardless of date of issuance, and fees shall be assessed prospectively. All fees charged shall be based on factors relating to the complexity of permit issuance and compliance and may be based on pollutant loading and toxicity and be designed to encourage recycling and the reduction of the quantity of pollutants. Fees shall be established in amounts to fully recover and not to exceed expenses incurred by the department in processing permit applications and modifications, monitoring and evaluating compliance with permits, conducting inspections, securing laboratory analysis of samples taken during inspections, reviewing plans and documents directly related to operations of permittees, overseeing performance of delegated pretreatment programs, and supporting the overhead expenses that are directly related to these activities.

(2) The annual fee paid by a municipality, as defined in 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1362, for all domestic wastewater facility permits issued under RCW 90.48.162, 90.48.260, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090 shall not exceed the total of a maximum of fifteen cents per month per residence or residential equivalent contributing to the municipality's wastewater system. The department shall adopt by rule a schedule of credits for any municipality engaging in a comprehensive monitoring program beyond the requirements imposed by the department, with the credits available for five years from March 1, 1989, and with the total amount of all credits not to exceed fifty thousand dollars in the five-year period.

(3) The department shall ensure that indirect dischargers do not pay twice for the administrative expense of a permit. Accordingly, administrative expenses for permits issued by a municipality under RCW 90.48.165 are not recoverable by the department.

(4) In establishing fees, the department shall consider the economic impact of fees on small dischargers and the economic impact of fees on public entities required to obtain permits for storm water runoff and shall provide appropriate adjustments.

(5) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the water quality permit account hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be appropriated only for purposes of administering permits under RCW 90.48.160, 90.48.162, 90.48.260, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090.

(6) ((The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature showing detailed information on fees collected, actual expenses incurred, and anticipated expenses for the current and following fiscal years.

~~(7) The legislative budget committee in 1993 shall review the fees established under this section and report its findings to the legislature in January 1994~~)) Beginning with the biennium ending June 30, 1997, the department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the account to the legislature. The report will be due December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The report shall consist of information on fees collected, actual expenses incurred, and anticipated expenses for the current and following fiscal years.

Sec. 4. RCW 90.50A.030 and 1988 c 284 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The department of ecology shall use the moneys in the water pollution control revolving fund to provide financial assistance as provided in the water quality act of 1987:

(1) To make loans, on the condition that:

(a) Such loans are made at or below market interest rates, including interest free loans, at terms not to exceed twenty years;

(b) Annual principal and interest payments will commence not later than one year after completion of any project and all loans will be fully amortized not later then twenty years after project completion;

(d) The fund will be credited with all payments of principal and interest on all loans.

(2) Loans may be made for the following purposes:

(a) To public bodies for the construction or replacement of water pollution control facilities as defined in section 212 of the federal water quality act of 1987;

(b) For the implementation of a management program established under section 319 of the federal water quality act of 1987 relating to the management of nonpoint sources of pollution, subject to the requirements of that act; and

(c) For development and implementation of a conservation and management plan under section 320 of the federal water quality act of 1987 relating to the national estuary program, subject to the requirements of that act.

(3) The department may also use the moneys in the fund for the following purposes:

(a) To buy or refinance the water pollution control facilities' debt obligations of public bodies at or below market rates, if such debt was incurred after March 7, 1985;

(b) To guarantee, or purchase insurance for, public body obligations for water pollution control facility construction or replacement or activities if the guarantee or insurance would improve credit market access or reduce interest rates, or to provide loans to a public body for this purpose;

(c) As a source of revenue or security for the payment of principal and interest on revenue or general obligation bonds issued by the state if the proceeds of the sale of such bonds will be deposited in the fund;

(d) To earn interest on fund accounts; and

(e) To pay the expenses of the department in administering the water pollution control revolving fund according to administrative reserves authorized by federal and state law.

(4) ((The department shall present a progress report on the use of moneys from the fund to the chairs of the ways and means committees of the senate and the house of representatives no later than November 30 of each year. This report shall consist of a list of each loan recipient, a project description, total loan amount, financial arrangement and interest rate, repayment schedule, and source of repayment.)) Beginning with the biennium ending June 30, 1997, the department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the account to the chairs of the senate committee on ways and means and the house of representatives committee on appropriations. The first report is due June 30, 1996, and the report for each succeeding biennium is due December 31 of the odd-numbered year. The report shall consist of a list of each recipient, project description, and amount of the grant, loan, or both.

(5) The department may not use the moneys in the water pollution control revolving fund for grants.