BILL REQ. #:  S-1062.1 

Read first time 02/18/2003.   Referred to Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water.

     AN ACT Relating to evaluating and addressing the health risks associated with toxic air pollutants; adding a new section to chapter 70.94 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   Toxic pollutants released to the air comprise approximately seventy-five percent of all toxic releases in Washington. Like many other states and the federal government, presently Washington state's principal strategy for reducing the release of toxic pollutants focuses on releases from industrial sources. This approach uses a technology-based system to address the releases and places a primary emphasis on conventional air pollutants such as particulates and carbon monoxide.
     The legislature finds that while this approach has had considerable success in controlling conventional sources of pollution, the state needs to examine a different approach for dealing with the public health risks associated with toxic air pollutants. Toxic air emissions should be evaluated using a public health, risk-based approach that prioritizes state action on the most dangerous toxic air pollutants.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 70.94 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall develop a planned strategy to address toxic air pollutant emissions based on their relative risk to public health. The toxic air pollutant emission strategy must:
     (a) Identify the most significant toxic air pollutants being released in Washington;
     (b) Include an evaluation, based on existing scientific information, of the risks associated with the identified toxic air pollutants;
     (c) Evaluate the relative public health risk posed by the toxic air pollutants; and
     (d) Prioritize the toxic air pollutants by the relative risk.
     (2) The department shall establish a ten-year schedule to adopt emission reduction standards that significantly reduce emissions for the top ten toxic air pollutants.
     (3) The department shall undertake actions, including any necessary rule making, to begin emission reductions for the six toxic air pollutants posing the greatest relative risk, as determined by the department, no later than January 1, 2006. The department shall use the authorities provided under this chapter to achieve such reductions, and incorporate the actions as appropriate into the state's clean air implementation plan.
     (4) In developing the toxic air emission strategy, the department may involve an advisory committee with a balanced representation of local government, business, agriculture, and environmental, public health, and community groups. Interested tribes and federal agencies should be encouraged to participate if an advisory committee is formed.