BILL REQ. #:  H-5025.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/03/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to studying nitrogen contributions from on-site sewage systems in Hood Canal; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that nitrogen is an important factor in creating low-dissolved oxygen in Hood Canal. The legislature further finds that inputs of nitrogen to Hood Canal from on-site sewage systems are uncertain due to insufficient data and studies. Therefore, the legislature finds that improved data on the contribution of nitrogen from on-site sewage systems to Hood Canal would allow stakeholders to focus and prioritize resources.
     (2) The Puget Sound action team and the Hood Canal coordinating council shall contract for a study in the Hood Canal to:
     (a) Improve data and knowledge of the loading of nitrogen from on-site sewage systems to ground water;
     (b) Determine the local scale efficiency of nitrogen removal from on-site sewage systems; and
     (c) Improve data and knowledge of the loading of nitrogen from all ground water sources to Hood Canal.
     (3) The study shall:
     (a) Locate representative on-site sewage systems distributed within the Hood Canal drainage basin for use in the study;
     (b) Collect water levels and samples from the areas around a number of on-site sewage systems under a variety of water table, soil, and geologic conditions;
     (c) Test samples for nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon, and other pertinent chemistry;
     (d) Consider water levels and samples from monitoring wells both up gradient and down gradient from on-site sewage systems;
     (e) Collect data from drain fields to test on-site sewage system efficiency; and
     (f) Collect water level, nutrient, and other chemical data from a number of existing wells in the watershed to test how much nitrogen is reaching Hood Canal.
     (4) The study shall be coordinated with other studies being conducted in Hood Canal through the Hood Canal dissolved oxygen program.
     (5) The Puget Sound action team and the Hood Canal coordinating council shall report their findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2007.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The sum of six hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, from the general fund to the Puget Sound action team for the purposes of this act.