SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5044

BYSenators Anderson, Nelson, Johnson, Craswell, Kiskaddon and Peterson

Permitting the director of ecology to recommend a waiver of secondary sewage treatment of wastewater under certain circumstances.

Senate Committee on Parks & Ecology

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1987

Senate Staff:Henry Yates (786-7708)

AS OF FEBRUARY 13, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The federal Clean Water Act, which passed Congress in 1972, required municipal wastewater to be treated at a secondary level. Secondary treatment removes substantially more toxic chemicals, bacteria and viruses than does primary sewage treatment.  A 1977 amendment to the federal law allowed communities that discharge waste into marine waters and could prove that there would be no environmental degradation to receive a five year waiver from the secondary treatment requirement.  Also, they must concur in the federal decision to grant a waiver.  Many communities around the country applied to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver, including several Puget Sound municipalities.

All of the 32 Puget Sound communities that requested secondary treatment waivers had their applications denied by the federal government.  Many claim that this happened in part, because the Department of Ecology was unwilling to concur with federal approvals of waiver applications.  Presently, several Puget Sound municipalities are required to install secondary treatment.  Some have been given until 1991 and others are still negotiating a schedule for installation.  The federal law says that all secondary treatment must be installed by July 1, 1988.  The cost is expected to be more than $1 billion, raising rates substantially.

SUMMARY:

The Director of the Department of Ecology is given authority to recommend that requirements for secondary wastewater treatment be waived by the federal government in certain cases.  If the wastewater is from a public facility that discharges into marine waters, if the receiving water quality will not be adversely affected and if there is a system for monitoring the impact, the Director can recommend that the secondary treatment standard be waived.

Fiscal Note:      requested