HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 6349

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

Title:  An act relating to membership on the committee that establishes external boundaries of critical water supply service areas.

Brief Description:  Changing membership of the committee that establishes boundaries of critical water supply service areas.

Sponsors:  Senators Anderson, Patterson and Swecker.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/26/98 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Parlette, Vice Chairman; Schoesler, Vice Chairman; Linville, Ranking Minority Member; Delvin; Koster; Mastin and Sump.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper and Regala.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:  A critical water supply service area is a geographic area characterized by a number of small inadequate water systems, or by water supply problems which threaten the present or future water quality or reliability of service. If the Secretary of Health, local planning agencies, and purveyors determine after study that these water supply problems exist in an area, the area is designated as a critical water supply service area.  The Secretary of  Health or the county legislative authority must consult with the local planning agencies and purveyors, and appoint a committee to establish the proposed external boundaries of the critical water supply service area.  Once the external boundaries have become finalized after a public hearing process, no new purveyor may be approved within the boundaries unless an existing purveyor is unable to provide service.

The committee responsible for setting the proposed external boundaries of the critical water supply service area must include a representative of each purveyor servicing more than 50 customers, the county legislative authority, county planning agency, and health agencies.

Summary of Bill:  The composition of the committees responsible for establishing the proposed external boundaries of a critical water supply service area is modified to include a representative from each purveyor serving more than 10 customers.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The general public should be represented as much as possible on public planning groups.  Water Systems which serve seasonal residents are represented on these committees, but water systems which serve full-time residents aren't represented.

Testimony Against:  The current restriction is to keep the committees from becoming unwieldy.  This process has worked well since its creation in 1977.  Smaller water systems currently receive notice of the process.  This bill would result in substantial numbers of members being added to committees in many counties. There may be another way to provide representation for smaller water systems.

Testified:  Senator Ann Anderson, prime sponsor (pro); Al Aldrich, Snohomish County PUD; and Dave Monthie, Department of Health (with concerns).