ANALYSIS OF HB 2414

House Agriculture & Ecology Committee                                        January 29, 1998

BACKGROUND:

Consistent with the Washington Clean Air Act, it is the policy of the State of Washington to reduce outdoor burning to the greatest extent practical.  Outdoor burning is defined as Athe combustion of material of any type in an open fire or in an outdoor container without providing for the control of combustion or the control of emissions from the combustion.@  (RCW 70.94.743)  Outdoor burning without a permit is prohibited in certain areas of the state, including:

Cany area where state or federal ambient air quality standards are exceeded for pollutants emitted by outdoor burning;

Cany urban growth area as designated by counties pursuant to the Growth Management Act, or any city of more than 10,000 people if such burning threatens to exceed state or federal air quality standards and alternative disposal methods are reasonably available.

Outdoor burning permits are available for a variety of activities, including weed abatement, certain kinds of fire fighting instruction, certain agricultural activities, and the disposal of organic refuse from activities such as land clearing.  Certain outdoor burning activities are exempted from permit requirements. 

Under current law, outdoor burning in urban growth areas or in cities of over 10,000 would be entirely prohibited after December 31, 2000.

SUMMARY:

The date by which outdoor burning in urban growth areas or in cities of over 10,000 would be entirely prohibited is changed from December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2006.