The department shall in addition to its other powers and duties:
(1) Cooperate with the appropriate federal, state, interstate and local units of government and with appropriate private organizations in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
(2) Coordinate the development of a solid waste management plan for all areas of the state in cooperation with local government, the department of commerce, and other appropriate state and regional agencies. The plan shall relate to solid waste management for twenty years in the future and shall be reviewed biennially, revised as necessary, and extended so that perpetually the plan shall look to the future for twenty years as a guide in carrying out a state coordinated solid waste management program. The plan shall be developed into a single integrated document and shall be adopted no later than October 1990. The plan shall be revised regularly after its initial completion so that local governments revising local comprehensive solid waste management plans can take advantage of the data and analysis in the state plan.
(3) Provide technical assistance to any person as well as to cities, counties, and industries.
(4) Initiate, conduct, and support research, demonstration projects, and investigations, and coordinate research programs pertaining to solid waste management systems.
(5) Develop statewide programs to increase public awareness of and participation in tire recycling, and to stimulate and encourage local private tire recycling centers and public participation in tire recycling.
(6) May, under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter
34.05 RCW, as now or hereafter amended, from time to time promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
Study—1989 c 431: "The institute for urban and local studies at Eastern Washington State University shall conduct a study of enforcement of solid waste management laws and regulations as a component of the 1990 state solid waste management plan. This study shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) A review of current state and local solid waste rules, requirements, policies, and resources devoted to state and local solid waste enforcement, and of the effectiveness of these programs in promoting environmental health and public safety;
(2) An examination of federal regulations and the latest proposed amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, in subtitle D of the Code of Federal Regulations;
(3) A review of regulatory approaches used by other states;
(4) A review and evaluation of educational and technical assistance programs related to enforcement;
(5) An inventory of regulatory compliance for all processing and disposal facilities handling mixed solid waste;
(6) A review of the role and effectiveness of other enforcement jurisdictions;
(7) An evaluation of the need for redefining institutional roles and responsibilities for enforcement of solid waste management laws and regulations in order to establish public confidence in solid waste management systems and ensure public protection; and
(8) An evaluation of possible benefits in separating the solid waste planning and technical assistance responsibilities from the enforcement responsibilities within the department." [
1989 c 431 § 96.]