HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6349

                      As Passed House:

                      February 29, 2000

Title:  An act relating to extending the expiration date of the water well delegation program.

Brief Description:  Extending the expiration date of the water well delegation program.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Environmental Quality & Water Resources (originally sponsored by Senators Eide, Morton, Swecker, Prentice, Fraser, McAuliffe and Rasmussen).

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology: 2/22/00,  2/24/00 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  2/29/00, 97-0.

           Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Removes the termination date for the Department of Ecology to delegate authority for well tagging, sealing, and decommissioning.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives G. Chandler, Republican Co-Chair; Linville, Democratic Co-Chair; Cooper, Democratic Vice Chair; Koster, Republican Vice Chair; Anderson; B. Chandler; Delvin; Fortunato; Schoesler; Stensen; Sump and Wood.

Staff:  Bill Lynch (786-7092).

Background:

In 1992 legislation was enacted to allow the Department of Ecology to delegate to a health district or county upon request, the authority to administer and enforce the well sealing and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program.  Well tagging was expressly added to these delegable authorities in 1993.  The statute which allowed the delegation of this authority was originally set to expire in 1996, but was extended for an additional four years.

The authority for the Department of Ecology to delegate the administration and enforcement of tagging, sealing, and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program expires on June 30, 2000, unless extended by the Legislature.

Summary of Bill:

The authority for the Department of Ecology to delegate the administration and enforcement of tagging, sealing, and decommissioning portions of the water well construction program is extended to June 30, 2006.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The program works well and should be extended.  Sixty percent of new wells drilled come under this program.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Eide, prime sponsor; David Peterson, Snohomish Health District; Mike Matson, Washington State Drilling and Ground Water Association; and Richard Szymarek, Department of Ecology.