S-1899 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL NO. 5978
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State of Washington 51st Legislature 1989 Regular Session
By Senators Madsen, Metcalf, Rasmussen and von Reichbauer
Read first time 2/21/89 and referred to Committee on Environment & Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to sludge; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Beginning June 1, 1989, no new disposal site approvals will be issued by local governments for land application of municipal sewage sludge until alternative methods or technical and scientific supportive data are presented to ensure that the public health is protected and environmental concerns are addressed. Applications for sewage sludge permits will be accepted but no final decision shall issue on that permit.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A sludge study task force is formed of representatives of the department of ecology, natural resources, and social and health services, a representative of the Puget Sound water quality authority, a representative of a metropolitan municipal corporation, a representative from any affected cities, a representative from any affected counties, a representative from the forest industry, and a representative from the general public of each county in the state. The chair will be elected from among the task force members. The task force shall:
(1) Conduct a technology review of:
(a) Alternatives to land application; and
(b) Air pollution control technology safeguards for increased incineration;
(2) Review and evaluate current project data for:
(a) Water quality monitoring data;
(b) Effects of metals based on different soils where sludge is applied; and
(c) Immediate and long-term impacts on wildlife and fisheries resources;
(3) Conduct technical and scientific analysis and:
(a) Identify effects and levels of toxic organics in sludge;
(b) Identify impacts on ground water quality;
(c) Establish criteria based on review of hydrological data to identify land application sites with the least amount of environmental risk; and
(d) Identify best potential sites in the state based on hydrological data criteria in (c) of this subsection;
(4) Review current rules and regulations to ensure that local zoning and health concerns are adequately protected.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The task force shall report its findings and a set of recommendations to the legislature on December 1, 1995.