H-0312.1

HOUSE BILL 1154

ByRepresentatives Duerr, Doglio, Ramel, Berry, Ryu, Callan, Pollet, Berg, Davis, Kloba, and Hunt, V

AN ACT Relating to ensuring environmental and public health protection from solid waste handling facility operations; amending RCW 70A.205.125, 70A.205.130, 70A.205.135, and 70A.205.140; adding new sections to chapter 70A.205 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 70A.205.125 and 2016 c 119 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Applications for permits to operate a new or modified solid waste handling facility shall be on forms prescribed by the department and shall contain a description of the proposed facilities and operations at the site, plans and specifications for any new or additional facilities to be constructed, and such other information as the jurisdictional health department may deem necessary in order to determine whether the site and solid waste disposal facilities located thereon will comply with local regulations and state rules.

(2) Upon receipt of an application for a permit to establish or modify a solid waste handling facility, the jurisdictional health department shall refer one copy of the application to the department which shall report its findings to the jurisdictional health department. When the application is for a permit to establish or modify a solid waste handling facility located in an area that is not under a quarantine, as defined in RCW 17.24.007, and when the facility will receive material for composting from an area under a quarantine, the jurisdictional health department shall also provide a copy of the application to the department of agriculture. The department of agriculture shall review the application to determine whether it contains information demonstrating that the proposed facility presents a risk of spreading disease, plant pathogens, or pests to areas that are not under a quarantine. For the purposes of this subsection, "composting" means the biological degradation and transformation of organic solid waste under controlled conditions designed to promote aerobic decomposition.

(3) The jurisdictional health department shall investigate every application as may be necessary to determine whether a proposed or modified site and facilities meet all solid waste, air, and other applicable laws and regulations, and conforms with the approved comprehensive solid waste handling plan, and complies with all zoning requirements.

(4) When the jurisdictional health department finds that the permit should be issued, ((it))and the department has approved the permit under RCW 70A.205.130, the jurisdictional health department shall issue such permit. Every application shall be approved or disapproved within ((ninety))90 days after its receipt by the jurisdictional health department.

(5) The jurisdictional board of health may establish reasonable fees for permits and renewal of permits. All permit fees collected by the health department shall be deposited in the treasury and to the account from which the health department's operating expenses are paid.

Sec. 2. RCW 70A.205.130 and 2020 c 20 s 1173 are each amended to read as follows:

((Every))(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, every permit issued by a jurisdictional health department under RCW 70A.205.125 shall be reviewed by the department to ensure that the proposed site or facility conforms with:

(((1)))(a) All applicable laws and regulations including the ((minimal))minimum functional standards for solid waste handling; and

(((2)))(b) The approved comprehensive solid waste management plan.

(2) The department shall review the permit within ((thirty))30 days after the issuance of the permit by the jurisdictional health department. ((The))For solid waste handling facilities other than landfills, the department may appeal the issuance of the permit by the jurisdictional health department to the pollution control hearings board, as described in chapter 43.21B RCW, for noncompliance with subsection (1) ((or (2)))(a) or (b) of this section.

(3) No permit issued pursuant to RCW 70A.205.125 after June 7, 1984, shall be considered valid unless it has been reviewed by the department.

Sec. 3. RCW 70A.205.135 and 2020 c 20 s 1174 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every permit for an existing solid waste handling facility issued pursuant to RCW 70A.205.125 shall be renewed at least every five years on a date established by the jurisdictional health department having jurisdiction of the site and as specified in the permit. If a permit is to be renewed for longer than one year, the local jurisdictional health department may hold a public hearing before making such a decision. Prior to renewing a permit, the health department shall conduct a review as it deems necessary to assure that the solid waste handling facility or facilities located on the site continues to meet minimum functional standards of the department, applicable local regulations, and are not in conflict with the approved solid waste management plan. A jurisdictional health department shall approve or disapprove a permit renewal within ((forty-five))45 days of conducting its review. The department shall review and may appeal the renewal of permits for solid waste handling facilities other than landfills as set forth for the approval of permits in RCW 70A.205.130(2). The department must review and approve or disapprove renewal of permits for landfill disposal facilities as set forth in RCW 70A.205.130(4).

(2) The jurisdictional board of health may establish reasonable fees for permits reviewed under this section. All permit fees collected by the health department shall be deposited in the treasury and to the account from which the health department's operating expenses are paid.

Sec. 4. RCW 70A.205.140 and 2016 c 119 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

Any permit for a solid waste disposal site issued as provided herein shall be subject to suspension at any time the department or the jurisdictional health department determines that the site or the solid waste disposal facilities located on the site are being operated in violation of this chapter, the regulations of the department, the rules of the department of agriculture, or local laws and regulations.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 70A.205 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the provisions of RCW 70A.205.140, a jurisdictional health department or the department may:

(a) Impose a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day of operation of a solid waste handling facility in violation of the requirements of this chapter or a permit issued under this chapter; and

(b) Issue an order requiring compliance by a solid waste handling facility in violation of the requirements of this chapter or a permit issued under this chapter. A person who fails to take corrective action as specified in a compliance order is liable for a civil penalty as provided in (a) of this subsection.

(2)(a) If the department chooses to enforce the requirements of this chapter with respect to a solid waste handling facility in a jurisdiction, the department must notify the jurisdictional health department with a letter of intent that includes:

(i) The start and any end date of the department's enforcement activities; and

(ii) The geographical boundaries of solid waste handling facilities at which the enforcement activities are planned.

(b) If a solid waste handling facility owner or operator pays a penalty under this section for a violation to a government entity, any penalty imposed by a different government entity for a violation based on the same incident and conduct shall be reduced by the amount of the prior penalty.

(c) Upon receipt of an order by the jurisdictional health department or department, a solid waste handling facility owner or operator must provide information necessary to determine compliance with the requirements of this chapter applicable to solid waste handling facilities.

(d) An applicant or permittee must allow the jurisdictional health department and department to conduct inspections and collect samples.

(3) Penalties levied by the department under this section must be deposited in the model toxics control operating account created in RCW 70A.305.180.

(4) A person who is issued an order or incurs a penalty from a jurisdictional health department or the department under this section may appeal the order or penalty to the pollution control hearings board established by chapter 43.21B RCW.

(5) This section does not apply to actions taken by the department under chapter 70A.305 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 70A.205 RCW to read as follows:

By January 1, 2026, and each five years thereafter, each jurisdictional health department must transmit to the department a list of any violations of the requirements of this chapter historically or currently identified by the jurisdictional health department with respect to each solid waste facility that is currently operating in the jurisdiction. This list must include a description of any enforcement actions taken against the solid waste facility and whether the identified violation has been resolved to the satisfaction of the jurisdictional health department.

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