BILL REQ. #:  S-3338.1 

Read first time 01/12/10.   Referred to Committee on Environment, Water & Energy.

     AN ACT Relating to seawater desalination; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The Puget Sound partnership shall establish a work group to study seawater desalination. The purpose of the study is to identify the impacts of desalination facilities and to determine the feasibility of seawater desalination as a solution to water supply issues.
     (1) The Puget Sound partnership shall convene and chair a work group that includes representatives from the department of health, department of natural resources, department of fish and wildlife, and department of ecology.
     (2) In conducting the study, the work group shall consider, at a minimum, the following issues:
     (a) The environmental impacts of seawater desalination facilities, including noise, air, and water pollution;
     (b) Impacts to nearshore habitat;
     (c) Disposal of waste and by-products;
     (d) Energy use and efficiency and the energy requirements needed to operate a desalination facility;
     (e) An analysis of management and operational requirements to ensure financial and long-term viability, including fiscal impacts to entities relying on a desalination plant for their primary potable water;
     (f) Public health and safety issues, including residential requirements for water, possible health impacts, and risks;
     (g) The impacts of enhancing or limiting potable water availability for established communities and for new subdivisions or short plats; and
     (h) Laws and regulations of other states regarding desalination, impact assessments, and energy usage costs.
     (3) By December 1, 2010, the Puget Sound partnership shall report to the legislature the results of the study and make recommendations to the legislature as to:
     (a) The need for a regulatory system or permit process for siting and administering seawater desalination facilities;
     (b) Appropriate guidelines for siting, sizing, and operating seawater desalination facilities;
     (c) Methods for determining the feasibility of a seawater desalination facility and ensuring the long-term viability of a facility that may serve entities with limited access to potable water; and
     (d) Alternatives to seawater desalination.