2844-S.E AMS EEW S4516.1

2844-S.E AMS EEW S4516.1

ESHB 2844 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Environment, Energy & Water

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:

"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that the legislation passed in 1997 that created a voluntary program authorizing environmental excellence program agreements with persons regulated by the environmental laws of Washington state was intended to provide flexibility to the regulated community without adversely affecting the state's environmental protection standards. However, the low number of environmental excellence program agreements entered into since 1997 has been disappointing.

(2) The legislature further finds that in light of the low participation rates, and the development of similar programs in other states since 1997, the environmental excellence program should be evaluated in an effort to identify and eliminate current barriers that are discouraging the execution of environmental excellence program agreements.

(3) The authority for the department of ecology to enter into environmental excellence program agreements terminates June 30, 2002. The legislature finds that this date should be extended in order to continue the environmental excellence program and to provide time for the legislature to evaluate and act on any necessary changes to the program that will encourage increased participation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.21K RCW to read as follows:

Citizens of the state of Washington have the right to expect the following information to be provided to them when asking for a permit, license, or permission to engage in a lawful activity:

(1) A date in time for a decision on permits;

(2) A defined amount of information required to award a permit by a permitting authority before any application for permits can be accepted; and

(3) An estimate of the maximum amount of costs in fees, studies, or public processes that will be incurred by the permit applicant.

This section does not create a right of action.

Sec. 3. RCW 43.21K.160 and 1997 c 381 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

The authority of a director to enter into a new environmental excellence program agreement program shall be terminated June 30, ((~~2002~~)) 2006. Environmental excellence program agreements entered into before June 30, ((~~2002~~)) 2006, shall remain in force and effect subject to the provisions of this chapter."

ESHB 2844 - S COMM AMD

By Committee on Environment, Energy & Water

On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "agreements;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 43.21K.160; adding a new section to chapter 43.21K RCW; and creating a new section."