H-1309              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 1827

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Vekich, S. Wilson, Valle, Pruitt, K. Wilson, Leonard, Braddock, Prentice, Locke, Jacobsen, Cole, Todd, Spanel, Brekke, Rust, H. Sommers and R. King

Read first time 2/6/89 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to the control of air pollution resulting from slash burning; adding new sections to chapter 76.04 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature declares that preservation of the superior quality of life that our relatively pure northwest environment provides is important to the mental and physical health and well-being of the citizens of this state. Additionally, a clean environment is crucial to the state's economy because it plays a critical role in attracting tourism and other environmentally sensitive industries to the state. Slash burns reduce the attractiveness of the state and thus weaken the state's position as a competitor for these industries. Slash burns also create major air pollution, health, and visibility problems.  In order to preserve the state's superior quality of life, the legislature declares that air pollution from slash burning must be reduced and that alternative methods of removing forest debris and preparing sites must be undertaken.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     (1)  After July 1, 1990, the department of natural resources is authorized to issue burning permits for slash burning only during the following periods of time: (a) November 1 through April 30; and (b) Monday through Friday during the months of May and June.

          (2)  Burning permits for slash burns shall require that slash burns be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of the Washington smoke management program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     (1) Slash burning shall be conducted in a manner that provides for the attainment of state and local air quality standards adopted under chapter 70.94 RCW.

          (2) Any person who conducts a slash burn that results in a violation of state or local air quality standards adopted under chapter 70.94 RCW shall be subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of RCW 70.94.425 through 70.94.435.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.     The department of natural resources shall revise its extreme fire hazard rules requiring isolation or reduction of forest debris to encourage alternative uses of forest debris, to discourage the burning of forest debris, and to discourage the use of herbicides and chemicals.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.     Sections 2 through 4 of this act shall each be added to chapter 76.04 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.