SB 5424-S.E - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Declares that the purpose of this act is to allow the use of commercially available herbicides that have been approved by the environmental protection agency and the department of agriculture and subject to rigorous evaluation by the department of ecology through an environmental impact statement for the aquatic plant management program.

     Directs the department of ecology to update the final supplemental environmental impact statement completed in 1992 for the aquatic plant management program to reflect new information on herbicides evaluated in 1992 and new, commercially available herbicides.  The department shall maintain the currency of the information on herbicides and evaluate new herbicides as they become commercially available.

     Declares that, for the 1999 treatment season, the department shall permit by May 15, 1999, municipal experimental application of herbicides such as hydrothol 191 for algae control in lakes managed under chapter 90.24 RCW.  If experimental use is determined to be ineffective, then the department shall within fourteen days consult with other state, federal, and local agencies and interested parties, and may permit the use of copper sulfate.  The Washington institute for public policy shall contract for a study on the lake-wide effectiveness of any herbicide used under this provision.

     Requires the results of the study to be reported to the appropriate legislative committees by December 1, 1999.  A general fund appropriation in the amount of $35,000 is provided to the Washington institute for public policy for fiscal year 1999 for the study required under this provision.

     Declares that, subject to restrictions in this section, a government entity seeking to control a limited infestation of Eurasian water milfoil may use the pesticide 2,4-D to treat the milfoil infestation, without obtaining a permit under RCW 90.48.445, if the milfoil infestation is either recently documented or remaining after the application of other control measures, and is limited to twenty percent or less of the littoral zone of the lake.  Any pesticide application made under this section must be made according to all label requirements for the product and must meet the public notice requirements.

     Provides that the act shall be null and void if appropriations are not approved.