H-2031

AN ACT Relating to funding of a state biosolids management program; amending RCW 90.48.465; and adding a new section to chapter 70.95J RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 70.95J RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall establish annual fees to collect expenses for issuing and administering biosolids permits under this chapter. An initial fee schedule shall be established by rule and shall be adjusted no more often than once every two years. This fee schedule applies to all permits, regardless of date of issuance, and fees shall be assessed prospectively. Fees shall be established in amounts to recover expenses incurred by the department in processing permit applications and modifications, reviewing related plans and documents, monitoring, evaluating, conducting inspections, overseeing performance of delegated program elements, providing technical assistance, and supporting overhead expenses that are directly related to these activities.

(2) The annual fee paid by a permittee for any permit issued under this chapter shall be determined by the number of residences or residential equivalents contributing to the permittee's biosolids management system. If residences or residential equivalents cannot be determined or reasonably estimated, fees shall be based on other appropriate criteria.

(3) The biosolids permit account is created in the state treasury. All receipts from fees under this section must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for the purposes of administering permits under this chapter.

(4) The department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the biosolids permit account to the legislature. The first report is due on or before December 31, 1998, and thereafter on or before December 31st of odd-numbered years. The report shall consist of information on fees collected, actual expenses incurred, and anticipated expenses for the current and following fiscal years.

(5) The department shall work with the regulated community and local health departments to study the feasibility of modifying the fee schedule to support delegated local health departments and reduce local health department fees paid by biosolids permittees.

Sec. 2. RCW 90.48.465 and 1996 c 37 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department shall establish annual fees to collect expenses for issuing and administering each class of permits under RCW 90.48.160, 90.48.162, and 90.48.260((~~, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090~~)). An initial fee schedule shall be established by rule within one year of March 1, 1989, and thereafter the fee schedule shall be adjusted no more often than once every two years. This fee schedule shall apply to all permits, regardless of date of issuance, and fees shall be assessed prospectively. All fees charged shall be based on factors relating to the complexity of permit issuance and compliance and may be based on pollutant loading and toxicity and be designed to encourage recycling and the reduction of the quantity of pollutants. Fees shall be established in amounts to fully recover and not to exceed expenses incurred by the department in processing permit applications and modifications, monitoring and evaluating compliance with permits, conducting inspections, securing laboratory analysis of samples taken during inspections, reviewing plans and documents directly related to operations of permittees, overseeing performance of delegated pretreatment programs, and supporting the overhead expenses that are directly related to these activities.

(2) The annual fee paid by a municipality, as defined in 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1362, for all domestic wastewater facility permits issued under RCW 90.48.162((,)) and 90.48.260((~~, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090~~)) shall not exceed the total of a maximum of fifteen cents per month per residence or residential equivalent contributing to the municipality's wastewater system. The department shall adopt by rule a schedule of credits for any municipality engaging in a comprehensive monitoring program beyond the requirements imposed by the department, with the credits available for five years from March 1, 1989, and with the total amount of all credits not to exceed fifty thousand dollars in the five-year period.

(3) The department shall ensure that indirect dischargers do not pay twice for the administrative expense of a permit. Accordingly, administrative expenses for permits issued by a municipality under RCW 90.48.165 are not recoverable by the department.

(4) In establishing fees, the department shall consider the economic impact of fees on small dischargers and the economic impact of fees on public entities required to obtain permits for storm water runoff and shall provide appropriate adjustments.

(5) All fees collected under this section shall be deposited in the water quality permit account hereby created in the state treasury. Moneys in the account may be appropriated only for purposes of administering permits under RCW 90.48.160, 90.48.162, and 90.48.260((~~, and 70.95J.020 through 70.95J.090~~)).

(6) Beginning with the biennium ending June 30, 1997, the department shall present a biennial progress report on the use of moneys from the account to the legislature. The report will be due December 31st of ((~~the~~)) odd-numbered years. The report shall consist of information on fees collected, actual expenses incurred, and anticipated expenses for the current and following fiscal years.