HB 1866-S - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Declares the purpose of this act is to create a voluntary program authorizing environmental excellence program agreements with persons regulated under the environmental laws of the state of Washington, or to direct agencies of the state of Washington to support and encourage the development of agreements that use innovative environmental measures or strategies not otherwise recognized or allowed under existing laws and rules to achieve results that represent environmental excellence.

     Directs agencies to encourage environmental excellence program agreements that favor or promote pollution prevention, source reduction, or improvements in practices that are transferable to other interested entities and that can achieve better overall environmental results than required by otherwise applicable rules and requirements.

     Requires the program agreements to achieve more effective environmental results.

     Requires the director of the department of ecology to appoint an advisory committee to review the effectiveness of the environmental excellence program agreement program and to make a recommendation to the legislature concerning the continuation, termination, or modification of the program.

     Directs the committee to submit a report and its recommendation to the legislature not later than October 31, 2001.