| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee | |
HB 1807
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Requiring the department of ecology to prepare an economic impact analysis on all draft general permits that are intended to directly cover small businesses.
Sponsors: Representatives B. Sullivan, Springer, Kretz, Blake, Warnick, Chase, Linville and O'Brien.
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
|
Hearing Date: 2/26/07
Staff: Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
The Department of Ecology (DOE) is authorized to issue draft general permits to satisfy the
waste water discharge requirements of the Clean Water Act [WAC 173-226-050]. A general
permit is defined as a permit that covers multiple dischargers of a point source pollutant within a
designated geographic area, and substitutes for an individual permit for all dischargers of the
covered pollutants located within that area [WAC 173-226-030].
For each draft general permit, the DOE must prepare and make available a fact sheet and an
economic analysis. The fact sheet must summarize the contents of the draft general permit,
including information about the public hearings scheduled for the draft permit [WAC
173-226-110].
The economic analysis must be prepared for all draft general permits which are intended to
directly cover small businesses [WAC 173-226-120]. The purpose of the analysis is to reduce
the economic impact of the general permit on small business by consolidating compliance
requirements for small business, offering differing compliance timetables for small business,
establishing performance rather than design standards, and exempting small business from parts
of the draft general permit.
The economic impact analysis must contain, at a minimum, a brief description of the compliance
requirements in the draft permit, the estimated costs of compliance, and a comparison of the cost
of compliance for small businesses as compared to the largest of businesses covered by the draft
permit.
The economic analysis requirements for draft general permits have been adopted
administratively by the DOE, and do not appear in codified law. However, codified law does
require all rules with a cost to business to undergo an economic analysis [RCW 19.85.030].
Summary of Bill:
The existing details and procedures for an economic impact analysis on DOE draft general
permits is codified. In addition, the DOE is required to obtain information for the analysis by
surveying a representative sample of affected businesses or trade associations.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 19, 2007.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.