SENATE 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

Senate Committee on Agriculture

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 16, 1990; February 20, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:John Stuhlmiller (786-7446)

                  February 20, 1990

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Fleming, Gaspard, Johnson, Lee, Niemi, Saling, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:David Sanford (786-7442)

                  February 27, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 26, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Washington Pesticide Control Act and the Washington Pesticide Application Act are administered by the Department of Agriculture.  With certain exceptions, the Pesticide Control Act requires every pesticide distributed within the state to be registered annually with the director of the department.  It also requires that pesticide dealers, dealer managers, and pest control consultants be licensed.

The Pesticide Application Act requires applicators of restricted use pesticides to be licensed.  In addition, all persons applying pesticides to more than one acre of agricultural land per year, are required to keep records of all applications.  Public entities engaged in roadside spraying are included in the recordkeeping and certification requirements.

The director of Agriculture is authorized to levy a civil penalty of up to $7,500 for a violation of either act.

SUMMARY:

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

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

The Department of Agriculture is authorized to limit the size of home and garden use pesticide containers.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested

Appointments by Legislature Required:     Two members from the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; two members from the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AGRICULTURE AMENDMENT:

The sustainable agriculture program at WSU is to include both educational and research programs, and biological control methods are added to the list of program areas in the sustainable program to be developed by WSU.

The Department of Agriculture is directed to do a needs assessment on biological control research and application, and is appropriated $25,000 for the study.

Language is added to clarify that the roadside spraying study applies only to transportation, electrical and telephone rights of way.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE WAYS & MEANS AMENDMENT:

The appropriation is deleted.

Senate Committee - Testified: AGRICULTURE:  Mark Triplett, Ag Busin. Coalition (pro); Mike Schwisow, Dept. of Agriculture (pro); Bill Roberts

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  No one