SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6194

BYSenator Kreidler

Establishing a vegetation management task force.

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1990; February 1, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6194 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Metcalf, Chairman; DeJarnatt, Kreidler, Owen, Patterson, Sutherland.

Senate Staff:Atsushi Kiuchi (786-7708)

                  February 5, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES, FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Pesticides are commonly used to manage vegetation growth along highways, roads, and railroad and utility corridors.  There are increasing reports of illnesses and contamination of surface and ground waters after application of pesticides.

While agricultural use, worker safety and labelling have been addressed, pesticide use in vegetation management programs to control unwanted plant growth along transportation and utility corridors has not been fully evaluated. 

Several counties including Jefferson, Mason, San Juan, Snohomish, Whatcom and Thurston have addressed pesticide use either as their lowest priority or banned its use on county owned lands through their vegetation management programs.

SUMMARY:

An integrated vegetation management program of biological, mechanical and cultural methods is established with pesticide use as the lowest priority.

The public "notice of action" provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) will be required of all public agencies prior to using pesticides in a vegetation management project.  The SEPA exemption for these activities is rescinded.

A 12-member task force is created to review current pesticide use and develop recommendations to reduce chemical dependency in vegetation management programs. Representation will include the pesticide industry, public and private utilities and transportation, the environmental community, and state agricultural, ecology, health and transportation agencies.

The task force shall report its findings to the Legislature by December 1, 1991.  An interim report is scheduled by January 1991. The task force shall expire on June 30, 1992.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The task force shall evaluate vegetation management methods used along transportation and utility rights of way.

The Legislature finds that current use and application of pesticides should be examined to determine potential threats to state waters, public health and the environment.

An integrated vegetation management program should consider biological, mechanical, cultural and chemical methods with preference for effective, economical and environmentally sound methods determined on a site-by-site basis.

The Department of Transportation and public utilities shall prepare nonproject environmental impact statements on the use of chemical control methods in their vegetation management programs. Existing management practices may be maintained prior to the completion of the impact statement.

The task force shall review current vegetation management practices and develop recommendations to improve integrated vegetation management programs. Included in the issues to be addressed are:  methods to provide notice of commercial application of pesticides to residences, including posting warning signs; and coordination with federal agencies by state and local agencies.

The state water quality account is the source of funding for carrying out the provisions of the act.

Appropriation:    $25,000 from the water quality account, RCW 70.146

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 14, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: Les Eldridge, Thurston County Commissioner (for); Jack Davis, Audubon Society (for); Cha Smith, Toxics Coalition (for); John Conrad, Bob Berger, Department of Transportation (against); Jim Brockmeir, Thurston County Public Works (for); Eric Berger, County Road Management Board; Mark Triplett, AgriBusiness Coalition (against)