H-3791.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 2844

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2002 Regular Session

By Representatives Linville, Schoesler, Romero, Chandler, Jarrett, Reardon, Gombosky, Morris, Sehlin, Lantz, Conway, Kenney, Santos, Ogden, Bush, Schual‑Berke, Kessler, Chase, Rockefeller, Simpson, McDermott and Kagi

Read first time 01/30/2002.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Concerning environmental excellence program agreements.

    AN ACT Relating to environmental excellence program agreements; amending RCW 43.21K.160; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds that the legislation passed in 1997 that created a voluntary program authorizing environmental excellence program agreements with persons regulated by the environmental laws of Washington state was intended to provide flexibility to the regulated community without adversely affecting the state's environmental protection standards.  However, the low number of environmental excellence program agreements entered into since 1997 has been disappointing.

    (2) The legislature further finds that in light of the low participation rates, and the development of similar programs in other states since 1997, the environmental excellence program should be evaluated in an effort to identify and eliminate current barriers that are discouraging the execution of environmental excellence program agreements.

    (3) The authority for the department of ecology to enter into environmental excellence program agreements terminates June 30, 2002.  The legislature finds that this date should be extended in order to continue the environmental excellence program and to provide time for the legislature to evaluate and act on any necessary changes to the program that will encourage increased participation.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 43.21K.160 and 1997 c 381 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

    The authority of a director to enter into a new environmental excellence program agreement program shall be terminated June 30, ((2002)) 2012.  Environmental excellence program agreements entered into before June 30, ((2002)) 2012, shall remain in force and effect subject to the provisions of this chapter.

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