2462-S AMS EQWR S5018.2

SHB 2462 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Environmental Quality & Water Resources

    Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

    "NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that state and national goals are to use maximum efforts to protect and restore surface waters so that they are swimmable and fishable.  Recreational use of public waters is an important part of the lives of Washington citizens, yet individuals as well as governmental agencies each have a responsibility to use judgment and to take action to minimize health risks from such recreational use.  Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature that state and local public health officials increase their efforts in reviewing water quality information that indicates an elevated health risk for direct contact recreational use.  It is further the intent of the legislature that the appropriate health officials take action to inform the public when surface waters frequently used for recreation pose elevated risks to public health.  The notification tools which should be considered include posting signs at public access points, mailing, and public service announcements in print and electronic media.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The department of health, in consultation with jurisdictional health departments and the department of ecology, may recommend to the board of health a model program for public health standards for surface waters.  The program adopted by the board shall be implemented by the department of health and jurisdictional health departments.

    (2) The components of the model program shall include, but shall not be limited to:

    (a) Facilitating state agencies, local governments, and citizens that conduct surface water quality monitoring in providing notice to local health jurisdictions when public health standards are exceeded;

    (b) Identification and establishment of public health threshold standards for surface waters.  The threshold standards shall be based on specific bacterial and other pollutant parameters and surveys as well as monitoring information regarding pollution loading in surface waters;

    (c) Guidance for identifying and inventorying surface waters subject to frequent use for recreation by the public;

    (d) Guidance for local health departments to respond to information about contamination;

    (e) Guidance on public information resources to employ when a threat to public health is identified, such as posting of water identified as posing a risk to public health, public service announcements through print and electronic media, or other public notification measures; and

    (f) Guidance for conducting public education activities relating to safe recreational use of surface waters and which may include information regarding common sources of bacterial contamination to waters frequently used for recreational activities.

    (3) The model program shall be submitted to the board of health by December 1, 2000, and the board shall adopt a program through rules by June 1, 2001."

SHB 2462 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Environmental Quality & Water Resources

    On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "monitoring;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and creating new sections."

EFFECT:  Directs the board of health to adopt a model program for public health standards for surface waters.  The model program shall also be adopted by the department of health and local health departments.

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