CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

 

                   SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2733

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                        54th Legislature

                      1996 Regular Session

Passed by the House February 6, 1996

  Yeas 97   Nays 0

 

 

 

 

Speaker of the

       House of Representatives

 

Passed by the Senate February 27, 1996

  Yeas 46   Nays 0

               CERTIFICATE

 

I, Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2733 as passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on the dates hereon set forth.

 

 

 

 

President of the Senate

 

                               Chief Clerk

 

 

Approved Place Style On Codes above, and Style Off Codes below.

                                     FILED

          

 

 

Governor of the State of Washington

                        Secretary of State

                       State of Washington


                  _______________________________________________

 

                            SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2733

                  _______________________________________________

 

                     Passed Legislature - 1996 Regular Session

 

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

 

By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Johnson, Sheldon, Koster, Honeyford, Linville, Boldt, McMahan, Hymes, Stevens, Cooke, Mulliken, McMorris, Hargrove and Elliot)

 

Read first time 02/02/96. 

 

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



     AN ACT Relating to well construction; amending RCW 18.104.043; creating a new section; repealing 1993 c 387 s 28 (uncodified); repealing 1992 c 67 s 3 (uncodified); and providing an expiration date.

 

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

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that experimental delegation of portions of the well drilling administration and enforcement authority of the department of ecology to willing and able local governments has been successful to date.  Delegation has provided a more effective and efficient means of assuring proper well construction and decommissioning and protection of public health and safety than could be accomplished by the department of ecology acting alone.  The legislature further finds that without legislative action, the authority for such delegation will expire June 30, 1996.  Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to extend the authority for delegation an additional four years.

 

     Sec. 2.  RCW 18.104.043 and 1993 c 387 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

     (1) If requested in writing by the governing body of a local health district or county, the department by memorandum of agreement may delegate to the governing body the authority to administer and enforce the well tagging, sealing, and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program.

     (2) The department shall determine whether a local health district or county that seeks delegation under this section has the resources, capability, and expertise, including qualified field inspectors, to administer the delegated program.  If the department determines the local government has these resources, it shall notify well contractors, consultants, and operators of the proposal.  The department shall accept written comments on the proposal for sixty days after the notice is mailed.

     (3) If the department determines that a delegation of authority to a local health district or county to administer and enforce the well sealing and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program will enhance the public health and safety and the environment, the department and the local governing body may enter into a memorandum of agreement setting forth the specific authorities delegated by the department to the local governing body.  The memorandum of agreement shall provide for an initial review of the delegation within one year and for periodic review thereafter.

     (4) ((The local governing body shall exercise any authority delegated under this section in accordance with this chapter, other applicable laws, the memorandum of agreement, and applicable ordinances.))  With regard to the portions of the water well construction program delegated under this section, the local governing agency shall exercise only the authority delegated to it under this section.  If, after a public hearing, the department determines that a local governing body is not administering the program in accordance with this chapter, it shall notify the local governing body of the deficiencies.  If corrective action is not taken within a reasonable time, not to exceed sixty days, the department by order shall withdraw the delegation of authority.

     (5) The department shall promptly furnish the local governing body with a copy of each water well report and notification of start cards received in the area covered by a delegated program.

     (6) The department and the local governing body shall coordinate to reduce duplication of effort and shall share all appropriate information including technical reports, violations, and well reports.

     (7) Any person aggrieved by a decision of a local health district or county under a delegated program may appeal the decision to the department.  The department's decision is subject to review by the pollution control hearings board as provided in RCW 43.21B.110.

     (8) The department shall not delegate the authority to license well contractors, renew licenses, receive notices of intent to commence constructing a well, receive well reports, or collect state fees provided for in this chapter.

     (9) This section expires June 30, 2000.

 

     NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

     (1) 1993 c 387 s 28 (uncodified); and

     (2) 1992 c 67 s 3 (uncodified).

 


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