S-1621.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5898
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State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Senators Rasmussen, West, Loveland, Newhouse, Bauer and Morton
Read first time 02/13/95. Referred to Committee on Ecology & Parks.
AN ACT Relating to open burning of grasses grown for seed; amending RCW 70.94.656; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 70.94.656 and 1991 sp.s. c 13 s 28 are each amended to read as follows:
It is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that strong efforts should be made to minimize adverse effects on air quality from the open burning of field and turf grasses grown for seed. To such end this section is intended to promote the development of economical and practical alternate agricultural practices to such burning, and to provide for interim regulation of such burning until practical alternates are found.
(1) The department shall approve of a study or studies for the exploration and identification of economical and practical alternate agricultural practices to the open burning of field and turf grasses grown for seed. Any study conducted pursuant to this section shall be conducted by Washington State University. Prior to the issuance of any permit for such burning under RCW 70.94.650, there shall be collected a fee not to exceed one dollar per acre of crop to be burned. Any such fees received by any authority shall be transferred to the department of ecology. The department of ecology shall deposit all such acreage fees in a special grass seed burning research account, hereby created, in the state treasury.
(2) The
department shall allocate moneys annually from this account for the support of
any approved study or studies as provided for in ((this)) subsection (1)
of this section. For the conduct of any such study or studies, the
department may contract with public or private entities: PROVIDED, That
whenever the department of ecology shall conclude that sufficient reasonably
available alternates to open burning have been developed, and at such time as
all costs of any studies have been paid, the grass seed burning research
account shall be dissolved, and any money remaining therein shall revert to the
general fund. The fee collected under ((this)) subsection (1) of
this section shall constitute the research portion of fees required under
RCW 70.94.650 for open burning of grass grown for seed.
(((2))) (3)
Whenever on the basis of information available to it, the department after public
hearings have been conducted wherein testimony will be received and considered
from interested parties wishing to testify shall conclude that any procedure,
program, technique, or device constitutes a practical alternate agricultural
practice to the open burning of field or turf grasses grown for seed, the
department shall, by order, certify approval of such alternate. Thereafter, in
any case which any such approved alternate is reasonably available, the open
burning of field and turf grasses grown for seed shall be disallowed and no
permit shall issue therefor.
(((3))) (4)
Until approved alternates become available, the department or the authority may
limit the number of acres on a pro rata basis among those affected for which
permits to burn will be issued in order to effectively control emissions from
this source.
(((4))) (5)
Permits issued for burning of field and turf grasses may be conditioned to
minimize emissions insofar as practical, including denial of permission to burn
during periods of adverse meteorological conditions.
(6) By November 1, 1996, and every two years thereafter, Washington State University shall submit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature a brief report assessing the potential of the university's research to result in economical and practical alternatives to grass seed burning.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
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