HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 499

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Unsoeld, Allen and Rust)

Providing standards for the issuance or renewal of wastewater permits.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (14)

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, May, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1985 the legislature directed the Department of Ecology to review all existing standards for wastewater that is discharged into Puget Sound.  The department was directed to issue a progress report to the legislature by January 1, 1986 and a final report by January 1, 1987.  The reports were to indicate if any of the standards needed to be revised in order to assure that all known, available and reasonable methods of treatment were being implemented.

In 1986 the department reported to the legislature that this task would cost approximately $800,000.  The concern was also expressed that it was more important to develop new standards than to review existing standards.  The legislature did not appropriate any money for these tasks.  The department claims that without funding, only one or two standards per year can be reviewed.

The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, in their 1987 management plan for Puget Sound, directed the Department of Ecology to incorporate permit conditions that require all known, available and reasonable methods of treatment.  Review of existing standards was not recommended.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Ecology, in issuing and renewing wastewater discharge permits, must incorporate permit conditions that require all known, available and reasonable methods of treatment to control toxicants in the applicant's discharge.  The permit conditions may include limits on the discharge of specific chemicals and limits on the overall toxicity of the effluent.  In no event may the discharge violate existing water quality standards.

The statute requiring the department to review existing standards is repealed.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):  The Senate amendments specify that the toxicity of the effluent will be determined by techniques such as chronic or acute bioassays.  Permit conditions will be required regardless of the quality of the receiving water or the minimum water quality standards.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 3, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Department of Ecology; Puget Sound Water Quality Authority.

House Committee - Testified Against: Northwest Pulp and Paper.

House Committee - Testimony For:     This bill provides a better method to control toxic discharges than the requirements of existing law.  The language is identical to the requirements in the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority's 1987 management plan for Puget Sound.

House Committee - Testimony Against: The Department of Ecology already has this authority.  "Reasonable methods of treatment" needs to be defined to include cost considerations.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:   Representative Padden