HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 2717
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. |
As Reported by House Committee On:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Title: An act relating to clarifying that sheep blood is not a component of sheep processing waste.
Brief Description: Clarifying that sheep blood is not a component of sheep processing waste.
Sponsors: Representatives Buys and Blake.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Agriculture & Natural Resources: 1/31/14, 2/4/14 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES |
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 14 members: Representatives Blake, Chair; Lytton, Vice Chair; Buys, Ranking Minority Member; MacEwen, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler, Dunshee, Haigh, Hurst, Kretz, Orcutt, Pettigrew, Schmick, Van De Wege and Warnick.
Minority Report: Do not pass. Signed by 1 member: Representative Stanford.
Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7291) and Jason Callahan (786-7117).
Background:
Anaerobic Digesters.
Anaerobic digesters are covered tanks or lagoons in which manure and organic waste-derived materials are deposited to be broke down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment. Anaerobic digesters create two products: digestate and biogas. Digestate is a nutrient rich solid and liquid substance which can be used as fertilizer. Biogas is a combination of methane and carbon dioxide that can be used to generate electricity and heat. An anaerobic digester exempted from solid waste permitting requirements must process at least 50 percent livestock manure by volume and process no more than 30 percent organic waste-derived materials by volume.
Organic Waste-Derived Material.
Organic waste-derived material may consist of vegetative wastes, uncontaminated wood waste, food waste, food processing wastes, and materials derived from these wastes through composting. Organic waste-derived material used in exempted anaerobic digesters must be:
imported from a separate location;
pre-consumer in nature;
put into the anaerobic digester within 36 hours of receipt;
received and stored in containers that comply with and are certified by the natural resources conservation practice standards;
stored and handled in a manner that protects surface and groundwater; and
managed to prevent odors and the attraction of flies and pests.
If the organic waste-derived material contains animal by-products, it needs to be source separated at a licensed facility. Bovine processing waste may only be used as organic waste-derived material if the animal it came from was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Sheep carcasses and sheep processing wastes are not allowed to be used as organic waste-derived materials for anaerobic digesters.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Summary of Bill:
Sheep's blood is added to the organic waste-derived material that may be used in anaerobic digesters.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is a very interesting bill, and it is quite simple. The bill reaches a goal that a lot of veterinarians have in the state to track a disease known as Scrapie. Unfortunately, if sheep are not being slaughtered, then Scrapie cannot be tracked. Slaughter houses that processes cattle dispose of the bovine blood by putting it into anaerobic digesters, but sheep's blood cannot be put in anaerobic digesters. This means that less sheep are processed, and there are less sheep heads to study to track the disease. By allowing sheep's blood to go into anaerobic digesters, small businesses can process sheep and stay in business. The name Scrapie refers to an infected sheep's desire to scratch their skin off. Scrapie incidences have dropped dramatically, and there has never been a documented case of Scrapie being transmitted from a sheep to a human. There is no risk to the human population.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: Representative Buys, prime sponsor; and Paul Kohns, Department of Agriculture.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.