ANALYSIS OF HB 3023

House Agriculture & Ecology Committee                                        February 4, 1998

BACKGROUND:

Glycols are components of the de-icer used for de-icing airplanes.  Concerns have been raised by some neighbors of airports regarding what effects these glycols have upon water quality.

SUMMARY:

A committee consisting of up to eight legislators is created for the purpose of developing a state airport glycol use plan.  The Speaker of the House of Representative may appoint four members, two each from the two largest caucuses in the House of Representatives; and the President of the Senate may appoint four members, two each from the two largest caucuses in the Senate.  Staff support for the committee is provided by the nonpartisan legislative committee staff.

The committee may create advisory groups to assist it in evaluating issues.  The committee must consult with citizens interested in water quality and protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat; the director, or the director=s designee from the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Health, Ecology, Natural Resources, and Agriculture; county governments, port districts, water-sewer districts, cities, and local health departments; and scientific and academic specialists.

The plan must include a review of all airports serving an annual daily average of more than 1000 scheduled commercial passenger flights.  The plan must include, but is not limited to: an overview of the science of glycols and its usage as an aircraft de-icer, the potential for glycols to contaminate water, various methods for applying glycols, an assessment of the problems associated with capturing and treating glycols on-site, recommendations on funding sources for developing programs and projects to protect state waters from glycols, and a plan or program to provide public information and education concerning the use of glycol and methods available to prevent them from polluting state waters. 

The committee must submit its plan, including any statutory recommendations, to the Legislature by January 1, 1999.