SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5225

As of February 23, 2017

Title: An act relating to directing the completion of a study of certain environmental impacts, including ultrafine particulate emissions, associated with aircraft traffic in areas impacted by airport operations.

Brief Description: Directing the completion of a study of certain environmental impacts, including ultrafine particulate emissions, associated with aircraft traffic in areas impacted by airport operations.

Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Miloscia, Saldaña, Kuderer and Hasegawa.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Energy, Environment & Telecommunications: 2/01/17, 2/08/17 [DP-WM, w/oRec].

Ways & Means: 2/15/17.

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Ericksen, Chair; Sheldon, Vice Chair; Carlyle, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Hobbs, Short and Wellman.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senator Honeyford.

Staff: Jan Odano (786-7486)

Staff: Daniel Masterson (786-7454)

Background: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Air Act (CAA) is required to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and the environment. Primary standards are established to protect public health, including sensitive populations. Secondary standards protect public welfare and the environment, including visibility, damage to animals, crops, and buildings. NAAQS have been established for six such pollutants, also known as criteria air pollutants, which are: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, lead, ozone, and particulate matter (PM). The standards are measured by volume (parts per million or billion) and micrograms per cubic meter.

In 2012, the EPA revised the standards for PM10 and PM2.5 to address short- and long-term exposures to protect adverse health effects that included premature mortality, increased hospital admissions, and development of chronic respiratory disease and PM related visibility impairment. There are no standards for ultrafine particles.

Particulate matter describes particle pollution suspended in the air. Larger particles include dust, dirt, and soot, which are visible to the naked eye. Smaller particles are described as inhalable particles and include PM10 and PM2.5. PM10 have diameters that are 10 micrometers or smaller (or about four ten-thousandths of an inch), and PM2.5 are particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. Ultrafine particles are those smaller than 0.1 micrometers in diameter. The major sources of PM are motor vehicles, wood burning stoves and fireplaces, dust, construction, outdoor burning, and wildfires.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, PM2.5 is of concern because the particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs. PM2.5 has been linked to decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms, including asthma, aggravating existing heart disease, and premature death among people with existing heart and lung conditions.

Summary of Bill: The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute): Commerce, in consultation with the departments of Health and Ecology, must complete a study on air quality implications of air traffic at Sea-Tac International Airport.

By September 1, 2019, UW must complete an assessment of ultra-fine particulates in the areas within ten miles of Sea-Tac. The assessment must include monitoring and evaluating concentrations, characteristics, and sources of ultrafine particulate matter in areas affected by high volumes of airport traffic. The assessment must also provide a comparison of areas surrounding or directly affected by high volumes of airport traffic to similar locations that are not near an airport.

Commerce must coordinate with local governments to share study results and solicit community feedback, evaluate the results of the assessment, and consider whether to recommend that the legislature proceed with a second phase of the study.

By December 1, 2019, Commerce must provide a report to the Legislature summarizing the findings on the prevalence of ultrafine particulates in areas surrounding and directly impacted by the airport, and its recommendation for whether the findings validate proceeding with a second phase of the study.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Energy, Environment & Telecommunications): PRO: There are health concerns in these areas such as higher rates of lung and heart disease. This study will set a baseline and will give guidance. It will also provide alternatives besides another airport. We first need to understand the real concern. This is a big issue for communities close to the airport. South King County residents bear the brunt of pollution. Environmental stress and poverty can have cumulative effect on health.

Persons Testifying (Energy, Environment & Telecommunications): PRO: Senator Karen Keiser, Prime Sponsor; Conner Edwards, Legislative Advocate for City of Des Moines; April Putney, King County; Chelsea Hager, City of SeaTac.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Energy, Environment & Telecommunications): No one.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute (Ways & Means): PRO: The Proposed Substitute will reduce the fiscal cost of the study. Ultrafine particulates are more common near airports. These particles are so small they can get into the bloodstream, then go all the way to the brain and cause toxic effects. It's good public policy to have more data points to base decisions on.

Persons Testifying (Ways & Means): PRO: Senator Karen Keiser, Prime Sponsor; Conner Edwards, Legislative Advocate -- City of Des Moines.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Ways & Means): No one.