S-171                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5253

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Metcalf, Saling, Stratton and West

Read first time 1/18/89 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to protection of ground water aquifers; and amending RCW 90.54.140.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section 5, chapter 253, Laws of 1984 and RCW 90.54.140 are each amended to read as follows:

          The legislature hereby declares that the protection of federally designated sole source aquifers and other ground water aquifers which are the sole drinking water source for a given jurisdiction shall be of the uppermost priority of the state department of ecology, department of social and health services, and all local government agencies with jurisdiction over such areas.  In administration of programs related to the disposal of wastes and other practices which may impact such water quality, the department of ecology, department of social and health services, and such affected local agencies shall explore all possible measures for the protection of ((the aquifer)) such aquifers, including any appropriate incentives, penalties, or other measures designed to bring about practices which provide for the least impact on the quality of the ground water.