HB 1415 - DIGEST
(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

Declares that except as otherwise provided in this act, a person may not, regardless of intent, release sewage sludge, oily bilge water, solid waste, biomedical waste, hazardous waste, graywater, or untreated blackwater from a commercial passenger vessel into any vessel-accessible waters.

Does not apply to releases made for the purpose of securing the safety of a commercial passenger vessel or saving life at sea if all reasonable precautions have been taken to prevent or minimize the release.

Declares that, except as provided in this act, a person may not release blackwater into any vessel-accessible waters from a commercial passenger vessel that calls on a public port in Washington unless the owner or operator of the commercial passenger vessel has been approved for blackwater releases by the department for the vessel in question and satisfies the requirements of this act.

Provides that a person may release treated blackwater from a commercial passenger vessel that has been approved for releases under this act and is at least more than one nautical mile from its berth at a public port in Washington and is traveling at least six knots if the owner or operator of the commercial passenger vessel agrees with the department to comply with designated requirements.

Provides that, by November 30, 2007, the department shall submit to the appropriate committees of the legislature a report that concludes if the limitations on the release of treated blackwater from commercial passenger vessels under chapter 90.48 RCW are adequate for protecting water quality. At a minimum, the report must make findings as to whether commercial passenger vessels are releasing treated blackwater in the same locations, and if so, whether the cumulative effects of these releases degrade the water quality in those areas.

Requires that, for each year from 2005 until 2010, the department shall analyze all water quality data received from commercial passenger vessels and make available to the public by December 31st of each year a report that summarizes all data collected in lay terms.