H-4212              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2958

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Representatives Belcher and Beck

Read first time 1/26/90 and referred to Committee on Natural Resources & Parks.

AN ACT Relating to the study of the impact of water and sediment quality standards on the state's bedlands and tidelands; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that it is essential that the state protect the quality of its water so it is safe for consumption and use by all citizens of the state and that it is important that such protection be accomplished in a manner that is technically practicable, recognizing the importance to the state of the many water dependent uses.  There are several laws, regulations, and proposed regulations that prescribe or would prescribe requirements and standards for water and sediment quality in both marine and fresh water environments and several of these existing and proposed requirements and standards are promulgated under existing statutes and have not received legislative scrutiny.  Over time the combination of the existing and proposed requirements and standards create sometimes contradictory and confusing legal mandates and present a potentially unworkable situation for entities who are governed by these laws.

          Therefore, it is in the best interest of the state to have laws that are highly protective and are also technically practicable, legally consistent, and easily enforced.

          The legislature shall appoint a joint select committee to study the existing and proposed laws and regulations concerning sediment quality requirements and standards and water quality standards to the extent they affect sediments.  The committee shall study:

          (1) Proposed regulations for storm water run off and marine and fresh water sediments;

          (2) The sediment aspects of the water quality criteria regulation; and

          (3) Statutory and regulatory sediment requirements for point source dischargers, including the requirements in RCW 90.48.520.

          The committee shall be comprised of two members from the senate and two members from the house of representatives, with equal representation from the two parties, and be appointed by the secretary of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.  The committee shall also include a representative from the department of ecology, the department of natural resources, and the department of transportation.  The committee shall consult with representatives from business, cities, counties, port districts, the environmental community, and the public.  The committee shall make recommendations to the legislature and the appropriate state agencies on changes necessary to create a protective and clear combination of laws and regulations on sediment and water quality no later than December 15, 1990.

          Until the committee concludes its study and formulates its recommendations, the department of ecology shall defer its development and implementation of proposed marine and fresh water sediment regulations and should endeavor to administer the existing laws and regulations as consistently as possible.  This section shall expire on June 30, 1991.