SENATE BILL REPORT

                  EHB 2414

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Agriculture & Environment, February 25, 1998

Title:  An act relating to outdoor burning.

Brief Description:  Extending the time in which to comply with outdoor burning prohibitions.

Sponsors:  Representatives Pennington, Mielke, Alexander, Carlson, Honeyford, Chandler, Buck, Hatfield and Doumit.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  2/24/98, 2/25/98 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

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

Staff: Kari Guy (786-7437)

Background: Outdoor burning is currently prohibited in certain areas of the state, including:

Cany area where federal or state ambient air quality standards are exceeded;

Cany urban growth area defined under the Growth Management Act (GMA) where alternative disposal methods are reasonably available; and

Cany city of greater than 10,000 people, if the city may exceed state or federal air quality standards, and where alternative disposal methods are reasonably available.

Burning must be phased out in all urban growth areas and in cities with a population of 10,000 or more by the end of the year 2000.

Concerns have been raised that cities smaller than 10,000 population may be prohibited from burning if the city is included in a county urban growth area.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Cities with a population of less than 5,000 that are not within or contiguous with an area not meeting federal or state air quality standards must phase out outdoor burning by December 31, 2006.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  It is clarified that the outdoor burning deadline is extended for cities with a population of less than 5,000, as well as the associated urban growth area.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  The bill provides a reasonable exemption for small cities.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Stu Clark, Department of Ecology (pro); Mike Ryherd, Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (pro).