Z-1124               _______________________________________________

 

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1594

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

 

By Representatives Rayburn, Sutherland, Vekich, R. King, Dellwo, Todd and Rasmussen; by request of Governor Gardner

 

 

Read first time 1/20/88 and referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development. Referred to Committee on Ways & Means 2/3/88.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to the water use efficiency study; amending RCW 43.83B.300; adding new sections to chapter 43.83B RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

 

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

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 1, Laws of 1977 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 343, Laws of 1987 and RCW 43.83B.300 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature finds that it is necessary to provide the department of ecology with emergency powers to authorize withdrawals of public surface and ground waters, including dead storage within reservoirs, on a temporary basis, and construction of facilities in relation thereto, in order to alleviate emergency water supply conditions arising from the drought forecast for the state of Washington during 1977 and during 1987.

          The legislature further finds that there is a continuing agricultural water supply shortage in many areas of the state and that, in relation to the lessening of that unsatisfactory condition, there is an urgent need to both improve water supply facilities and replace other such facilities.

          In addition, the legislature finds that improved efficiency of water use could provide an important new supply of water in many parts of the state with which to meet future water needs and that improved efficiency of water use should receive greater emphasis in the management of the state's water resources.

          In order to provide needed capital for the planning, acquisition, construction, and improvement of water supply facilities to withdraw and distribute water to alleviate unsatisfactory water supply conditions arising from droughts occurring from time to time in the state of Washington, and for the department of ecology to carry out a comprehensive water use efficiency study for the state of Washington, the state finance committee is authorized to issue general obligation bonds of the state of Washington in the sum of eighteen million dollars, or so much thereof as may be required to finance such projects, and all costs incidental thereto.  No bonds authorized by this section and RCW 43.83B.360 through 43.83B.375 shall be offered for sale without prior legislative appropriation, and these bonds shall be paid and discharged within thirty years of the date of issuance in accordance with Article VIII, section 1 of the state Constitution.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.83B RCW to be codified between RCW 43.83B.355 and 43.83B.375 to read as follows:

          The department of ecology shall carry out a comprehensive study of water use efficiency in this state.  The department, in consultation with other interested agencies, organizations, and the public, shall investigate and evaluate opportunities and means for achieving water use efficiency improvements.  The evaluation shall include but not be limited to the following:

          (1) Review and analysis of water use efficiency initiatives in other states;

          (2) Review of the water use efficiency recommendations of the western governors association;

          (3) Identification of existing institutional and economic disincentives to efficient water use;

          (4) Identification of existing and potential incentives that could bring about improved efficiency of use;

          (5) Identification of alternatives for improving efficiency of use;

          (6) Estimation of potential water savings and public and private costs from implementing alternatives;

          (7) Identification of a recommended approach for improving water use efficiency; and

          (8) Development of recommendations for any needed changes in laws, rules, policies, procedures, and programs to facilitate improved water use efficiency.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.  A new section is added to chapter 43.83B RCW to be codified between RCW 43.83B.355 and 43.83B.375 to read as follows:

          The department of ecology shall appoint a water use efficiency policy advisory committee consisting of representatives of appropriate legislative committees, state agencies, the office of the governor, Indian tribes, and interest groups.  The advisory committee shall assist the department of ecology in completing the investigations in section 2 of this act.  Members shall serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses from the department.  The advisory committee shall expire December 31, 1989.

          The department shall consult on a regular and frequent basis with interested organizations and individuals.  The department shall hold public meetings to inform the public about the study, and to receive public comments on a draft report of its study findings, its recommendations, and those of the advisory committee.

          The department shall document public comments, the advisory committee's recommendations, and those of the department, if they differ, in a final water use efficiency report.  The final report shall also include an estimate of staffing and funding needed to carry out the recommended approach.  The department shall provide the final report to the legislature no later than December 1, 1989.

 

        Sec. 4.  Section 704, chapter 6, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

          FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

 

          Emergency water project revolving account (88-2-004)

 

!tm4,2,2!tj1!tcReappropriation!tcAppropriation

 

!ixState Emerg Water Proj Rev !tj1!tc((4,000,000))!tc225,000

!tj1!tc3,860,185

 

!tm1,1,1!tcProject!tcEstimated!tcEstimated

!tcCosts!tcCosts!tcTotal

!tcThrough!tc7/1/89!sc ,1and!tcCosts

!tc6/30/87!tcThereafter

 

!tj2!tc((4,225,000))

!tj2!tc4,085,185

 

 

 

        Sec. 5.   Section 303, chapter 7, Laws of 1987 1st ex. sess. (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:

!tp1FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY

@i2General Fund Appropriation‑-State!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr51,666,000

General Fund Appropriation‑-Federal!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr59,846,000

General Fund Appropriation‑-Private/Local!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr398,000

Hazardous Waste Control and Elimination Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr2,616,000

Flood Control Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr3,999,000

Wood Stove Public Education Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr366,000

Special Grass Seed Burning Research Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr40,000

Reclamation Revolving Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr836,000

Emergency Water Project Revolving Account Appropriation:  Appropriated pursuant to chapter 1, Laws of 1977 ex. sess.!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr((175,000))

!tj1!tr314,815

Litter Control Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr6,395,000

State and Local Improvements Revolving Account‑-Waste Disposal Facilities:  Appropriated pursuant to chapter 127, Laws of 1972 ex. sess. (Referendum 26)!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr761,000

State and Local Improvements Revolving Account‑-Waste Disposal Facilities 1980:  Appropriated pursuant to chapter 159, Laws of 1980 (Referendum 39)!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr2,095,000

State and Local Improvements Revolving Account‑-Water Supply Facilities:  Appropriated pursuant to chapter 234, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. (Referendum 38)!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr1,071,000

Stream Gaging Basic Data Fund Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr139,000

Tire Recycling Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr548,000

Water Quality Account Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr2,398,000

Workers and Community Right to Know Fund Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr229,000

!sc ,10Total Appropriation!w×!tr$!sc ,16

!ae0!tr((133,578,000))

!tr133,717,815

 

          The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:

          (1) The department shall implement the Nisqually river task force recommendations.  $150,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for this purpose.

          (((3))) (2) $985,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for allocation to local air pollution control authorities.

          (((4))) (3) The appropriation from the wood stove public education account is contingent upon the enactment of House Bill No. 16.  If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 1987, this appropriation shall lapse.

          (((5))) (4) $9,250,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation  is provided solely to carry out the department's responsibilities contained in the Puget Sound water quality plan and perform corresponding state-wide water quality activities

          (((6))) (5) $715,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided for the purposes of solid waste management.

          (((7))) (6) $553,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for implementing the timber, fish, and wildlife agreement.  If Senate Bill No. 5845 is not enacted by June 30, 1987, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.

          (((8))) (7) If House Bill No. 434 is enacted by June 30, 1987, the appropriation from the hazardous waste control and elimination account shall lapse.

          (((9))) (8) $225,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation and $50,000 of the hazardous waste control and elimination account appropriation are provided solely to:  (a) Contract with the University of Washington college of ocean and fisheries sciences to develop a damage assessment methodology for determining damages as a result of oil spills, and (b) contract with the department of community development to design a model oil spill contingency plan.

          (((10))) (9) Within the general fund appropriation, the department shall prepare penalty regulations for waste disposal permit violations, including minimum penalties, based upon severity and frequency of violation.

          (((11))) (10) $302,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely for operating the Padilla Bay estuarine sanctuary interpretive center.

          (((12))) (11) Within the general fund appropriation, the department shall phase out state hazardous waste remedial action sites currently in progress and meet emergency response actions.  This subsection does not apply if House Bill No. 434 is enacted by June 30, 1987.

          (((13))) (12) $288,000 of the general fund‑-state appropriation is provided solely to implement Senate Bill No. 5570.  If the bill is not enacted by June 30, 1987, the amount provided in this subsection shall lapse.

          (13) $139,815 of the emergency water project revolving account is provided solely to carry out a comprehensive state water use efficiency study during the remainder of the 1987-89 biennium.  These funds are to be used to hire personnel and contract for necessary services including but not limited to services from persons with expertise in the areas of agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, and municipal water use technology.

 

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6.     Sections 2 and 3 of this act shall expire June 30, 1990.