SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2277

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Pruitt, D. Sommers, Rust, Walker, Brekke, Schoon, Valle, Fraser, Phillips, Nelson, Sprenkle, Hine and P. King) 

Creating a joint select committee on air quality.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 14, 1990; February 22, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; Amondson, Vice Chairman; Barr, Benitz, DeJarnatt, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Atsushi Kiuchi (786-7708)

                  February 22, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 22, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Air quality protection and enhancement is a congressional priority, and the federal Clean Air Act is subject to reauthorization this year.

The Legislature in recent years has enacted major revisions to the state Clean Air Act.  These include the 1989 Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance amendments and the 1987 Solid Fuel Burning Devices Act (wood stoves).

The Department of Ecology's Year 2010 Report lists automobiles, wood stoves and outdoor burning as the primary pollutant sources they regulate.  Air pollution was named as the state's major environmental problem by the 2010 study group.

SUMMARY:

A 15-member joint select task force to review and make recommendations on clean air programs is formed.  In addition to the six legislative members there are nine voting representatives from industry, businesses, agriculture and forestry, environment, public health and transportation and public agencies.

The task force shall review existing data, particularly from major sources and make recommendations for reducing emissions.

The task force shall consider and make recommendations on its current state and local air pollution control programs for funding mechanisms, data collection, monitoring and modelling, and administration and enforcement.

The recommendations of the State Growth Strategies Commission and the Washington 2010 Report shall be considered by the task force, if applicable.

The task force may make recommendations to reduce air emissions through waste reduction or energy conservation and by requiring and encouraging alternatives to fuels that are suspected of contributing to the "greenhouse" effect.

The task force reports to the Legislature on or before January 18, 1991. The task force expires on June 30, 1991.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 8, 1990

Appointments by Legislature Required:     Two from majority caucus and one from minority caucus in the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate (one to serve as co-chair); two from majority caucus and one from minority caucus in the House appointed by the Speaker of the House (one to serve as co-chair).

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS:

The task force is expanded to 16 members with the inclusion of a nonlegislative representative from the field and turf grass seed growers.

The task force report shall consider the economic and environmental consequences of its recommendations including impacts on:  energy sources should wood stove use be restricted; soil and water quality if burning of crops is curtailed; and forest regeneration and timber products should slash burning be reduced.

Neither the Department of Ecology nor local air authorities may adopt rules regulating open field burning by field and turf grass seed growers before June 30, 1991.

The task force may make recommendations to reduce air emissions known to contribute to the "greenhouse effect" or ozone depletion including recommendations for requiring and/or encouraging the use of alternative fuels.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Pruitt, original prime sponsor (pro); Mike Ryherd, Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (pro); Gary Smith, Independent Business Association