FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 1349

C 27 L 01

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing a funding mechanism for removal and disposal of derelict vessels.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Kessler, Buck, Morris, Sehlin, Linville and Rockefeller).

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Water

Background:

The State Toxics Control Account and the Local Toxics Control Account were created by the Legislature during the 1988 session and subsequently affirmed by the voters with the passage of Initiative 97, the Model Toxics Control Act, in November 1988.  The main purpose of the Model Toxics Control Act is to raise sufficient funds to clean up all hazardous waste sites and to prevent the creation of future hazards due to improper disposal of toxic wastes into the state's land and waters.

The primary source of revenue to the accounts is the hazardous substances tax, a privilege tax on the first possession of hazardous substances in the state. Fifty-three percent of hazardous substance tax receipts are deposited in the Local Toxics Control Account and 47 percent of receipts are deposited in the State Toxics Control Account.  Revenues to the Local Toxics Control Account are estimated to be $61.0 million for the 1999-01 biennium.

Moneys deposited in the Local Toxics Control Account are used for grants or loans to local governments for the following purposes, in descending order of priority:

(1)remedial actions to identify, eliminate, or minimize any threat or potential threat posed by hazardous substances to human health or the environment, including investigations, health assessments, and monitoring;

(2)hazardous waste plans and programs; and

(3)solid waste plans and programs.

Summary:

Local governments are eligible to apply for Local Toxics Control Account grants or loans for the cleanup and disposal of hazardous substances from abandoned or derelict vessels that pose a threat to human health or the environment.  Abandoned or derelict vessels are defined as having little or no value and either no identified owner or an owner lacking financial resources to clean up and dispose of the vessel.  The cleanup of derelict vessels follows remedial actions, hazardous waste planning, and solid waste planning in funding priority.

Votes on Final Passage:

House921

Senate470

Effective:  July 22, 2001