SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6010

BYSenate Committee on Agriculture (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler and Hansen)

Providing for the disposal of hazardous waste pesticides.

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 3, 1987

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6010 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Hansen, Chairman; Bauer, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bailey, Barr, Gaspard.

Senate Staff:Kaleen Cottingham (786-7415)

                  April 14, 1987

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 20, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Ecology appointed a study group on agricultural hazardous waste.  Currently, farmers have no appropriate economically feasible means of legally disposing of small amounts of hazardous wastes, including canceled or restricted pesticides.

The Department of Ecology cannot transfer hazardous waste from the farm to the collection site, unless a farmer has a farmer-generator number.  The Department of Agriculture does, however, have authority over pesticides (use and disposal).  The study group recommended that the Department of Agriculture take over the supervisory role regarding transportation of unusable farm pesticides to a collection site for inspection and disposal.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature intends that canceled or unusable pesticides held by farmers be properly disposed.  The Department of Agriculture, which currently regulates the registration and application of pesticides, shall administer a pesticide disposal program.

The Director of Agriculture may adopt rules to allow the Department to take possession and dispose of canceled, suspended or otherwise unusable pesticides held by persons regulated under the Washington Pesticide Application Act.

The Department may become licensed as a hazardous waste generator.

The Director of Agriculture shall develop and implement a pesticide waste disposal program.  Aspects of the program shall include the collection site, liability, insurance, transportation, licensure and regulatory compliance, volume of material to be disposed, education, container disposal, and analysis of unknown substances.

The Director shall report to the Legislature by January 1, 1988 on the program.

Appropriation:    $49,500

Fiscal Note:      requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Errett Deck, WACA; Art Losey, Department of Agriculture; Frank DeLong, Horticulture Association

HOUSE AMENDMENT:

The appropriation is removed and the title is amended.