HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2593

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Belcher, Rust, Dellwo, Jacobsen, Pruitt, Prentice, Fraser, Leonard, Nutley, Locke, R. Fisher, Cole, Vekich, Phillips and Brekke)

Modifying requirements for registration of pesticides.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; Brekke, Fraser, Phillips, Pruitt, Schoon, Sprenkle, Van Luven and Walker.

House Staff:Rick Anderson (786-7114)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Environmental Affairs be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (16)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Belcher, Brekke, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Grant, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Republican Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Bowman, Doty, May, McLean and Nealey.

House Staff:      Karl Herzog (786-7271)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Pesticides are cross media pollutants that can have adverse human health effects if they occur in sufficient concentrations in the air, water, land, or food supply.  Due to increased public awareness of the potential adverse effects of pesticides, alternative practices of pest control are increasingly being developed and used.  None of the state's colleges or universities currently offer a curriculum based on the growing body of knowledge of alternative pest control practices.

The Department of Transportation and many units of local government routinely maintain roadway visibility by spraying herbicides along roads and highways.  Such spraying often occurs near residences and has raised questions about application rates and health effects of herbicides as well as possible alternatives to them.

Pesticides and herbicides have been found in relatively high levels in urban environments.  This phenomenon is probably due to excess applications of pesticides and herbicides used around the home and garden.  The Department of Agriculture regulates most commercial applications of pesticides and herbicides but has no regulatory authority over home and garden use of such chemicals.

SUMMARY:

Washington State University must develop a plan to create a sustainable agriculture program.  The program will contain a number of elements relating to alternative pest management practices.  By December, 1990, the university must report to the Legislature on the proposed elements and the cost of the program.

A 19 member task force is created to address issues related to roadside spraying of pesticides.  The task force consists of legislators, agencies, environmental groups, and business groups.  The task force must report to the Legislature by December, 1990.

To reduce the amount of unused pesticides, the Department of Agriculture may limit the size of home and garden pesticide containers.

Appropriation:    $40,000 is appropriated to the Department of Ecology from the General Fund.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 2, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Environmental Affairs) Representative Jennifer Belcher, prime sponsor; Senator Arlie DeJarnatt; Dennis Reed; George Finch, United Farm Workers of Washington; Margaret Hue, Tri-Act; Jim Geiger; David Lascheid; Susan Doner; Peat Eriksen; Rick Bunch, Washington Public Interest Research Group; and Cha Smith, Washington Toxics Coalition.

(Appropriations) No one.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Environmental Affairs) Representative Max Vekich; Representative Margarita Prentice; Mark Triplett, Washington Agribusiness Coalition; Bob Verburg, Washington Agribusiness Coalition; Pete Romano, Washington Agribusiness Coalition; Ray Shindler, Pacific Northwest Aerial Applicators Alliance; and Mike Schwisow, Department of Agriculture.

(Appropriations) No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Environmental Affairs) The use of certain pesticides needs to be eliminated or greatly reduced due to the debilitating human health effects believed to be caused by pesticides.  Aerial spraying is difficult to control, can cause substantial crop damage, and should be restricted in certain areas.  Pesticides are misused and over-applied in urban areas.

(Appropriations) None.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Environmental Affairs) More time is needed to implement the pesticide legislation that passed last year.

(Appropriations) None.