SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 1419

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

           Agriculture & Environment, April 2, 1997

Title:  An act relating to solid waste permit renewal.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions for solid waste permits.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Linville and Regala; by request of Department of Ecology).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  4/2/97 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Oke and Rasmussen.

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background:  Local health jurisdictions are responsible for issuing permits to solid waste facilities.  In issuing permits, the local health department must determine if the solid waste facility meets local health and zoning requirements, the local solid waste management plan, and all applicable state and federal solid waste laws and regulations.  Current state law requires these permits to be issued within 90 days of application, and to be renewed annually.  A local health department may establish reasonable fees for issuance and renewal of permits.  A local health jurisdiction is not required to hold a public hearing prior to making a permit decision.  The term "solid waste handling facility" refers to all types of solid waste facilities, including recycling centers, transfer stations, drop-boxes, landfills, and incinerators.

Summary of Bill:  A local health department is authorized to renew a permit for an existing solid waste handling facility for a period of one to five years.  The local health jurisdiction issuing the permit determines the duration of the permit.  A local health jurisdiction may hold a public hearing prior to issuing a permit for any solid waste handling facility if the term of the permit is longer than one year.  A solid waste facility must be issued a new permit if the facility is substantially modified.

A local health department must decide on a permit renewal within 45 days of conducting a review of the facility.  The local health department may establish reasonable fees for permit renewals.

The Department of Ecology, in conjunction with the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, is  directed to recommend regulatory changes to various categories of solid waste materials to ensure that the regulations better reflect the risks posed by these materials.  The Department of Ecology must submit these recommendations to the Legislature by December 15, 1997.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  Allowing the permit renewal period to be expanded to five years at the discretion of local health jurisdictions is good regulatory reform.  The study required of the Department of Ecology should lead to a more efficient permitting program.  

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Jim Pendowski, Department of Ecology (pro).