SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SHB 2523

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Agriculture & Environment, February 24, 1998

Title:  An act relating to fire training activities.

Brief Description:  Regarding fire training activities.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Chandler, Linville, Mulliken, Schoesler, Hatfield, Cooper, Skinner and Clements).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  2/18/98, 2/24/98 [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:  Vic Moon (786-7469)

Background:  The Washington Clean Air Act requires burning permits for a variety of intentional outdoor burning activities.  The intent of the permits is to require that certain conditions be met, including limiting burning to days when air quality is not impaired, limiting the kinds of materials that can be burned, and limiting the conditions where such burning can occur.  Several kinds of permits are available, including those that must be obtained prior to weed abatement, certain kinds of fire fighting instruction, and certain agricultural activities; and those that must be obtained for certain limited outdoor burning activities, such as disposing of organic refuse from land clearing.

Current law also includes a prohibition on burning certain materials outdoors, including garbage, dead animals, asphalt, petroleum products, paints, rubber products, plastics, or any substance other than natural vegetation that normally emits dense smoke or obnoxious odors.

At present, a burning permit is not required for aircraft crash fire training conducted in compliance with several conditions pertaining to type of facilities that may engage in such training and air quality considerations.  These training activities are exempt from the prohibition on burning petroleum products.  The permit exemption sunsets on July 1, 1998, or the date upon which the North Bend Fire Training Center is fully operational.

Summary of Bill:  A facility must be operated in a manner that minimizes, to the extent possible, the air contaminants generated during operation.  Written approval is required from the department or local air pollution control authority prior to the commencement of initial operation of training.  Such approval is provided if training is conducted in compliance with the required conditions.   The burning of petroleum done in conjunction with aircraft crash rescue fire training is exempt from the requirement for a limited outdoor burning permit.  A limited outdoor burning permit is required for the burning of prohibited materials done in conjunction with fire fighting or other actions to protect public health and safety.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This bill is very important since the Moses Lake fire fighting program for aircraft fires cannot continue unless the law is changed so that both the North Bend facility and Moses Lake can operate their complementary programs.  Without changes in law, the programs presently operated for fire fighting training at oil refineries will be in violation of the clean air laws.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Ray Harry, SBCTC; Susie Tracy, Washington Airport Management Association; Greg Hanon, Western States Petroleum Association; Doug Sly, Mike Kelly, Big Bend Community College; David Bailey, Jerry Shotts, Port of Moses Lake; Mike Ryherd, PSAPCA.