FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6238

PARTIAL VETO

                                   C 279 L 88

BYSenate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Metcalf and Owen;by request of Department of Ecology)

Changing provisions relating to the authority of state agencies to administer part C of the federal safe drinking water act.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act which in Part C provided for state primary enforcement responsibility with respect to underground injection control programs.  In 1986, Congress reauthorized and amended the Safe Drinking Water Act, adding additional programs to Part C of the act which allow primary enforcement responsibility to be assumed by the state.  These are programs relating to wellhead protection areas and sole source aquifer demonstration areas.  The wellhead protection program sets forth a process for identifying wellhead areas to be protected and the source of contaminants which may adversely affect health, and the development of control and other measures to protect water supplies within such areas.  Grants for state programs are authorized in the federal act.  The sole source aquifer demonstration program authorizes federal grants for identifying critical aquifer protection areas and pursuing comprehensive planning for such areas.

SUMMARY:

The Departments of Ecology, Natural Resources, and Social and Health Services, as well as the Oil and Gas Conservation Committee, are authorized to carry out programs of Part C of the Federal Drinking Water Law as of June 19, 1986, the effective date of the 1986 federal law amendments.  Language in existing statute which refers to a participation in a prospective federal program regarding sole source aquifer protection, now included under Part C of the amended federal law, is deleted as superfluous.  If necessary to protect the public health, the State Board of Health is to promulgate regulations applicable to public water systems not covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Senate    45     0

      House 95   0 (House amended)

      Senate            (Senate refused to concur)

      House             (House refused to recede)

Free Conference Committee

      House 94   0

      Senate    45     0

EFFECTIVE:June 9, 1988

Partial Veto Summary:  The provision authorizing the State Board of Health to adopt regulations applicable to certain public water systems only if necessary to protect the public health is deleted.  (See VETO MESSAGE)