FINAL BILL REPORT

EHB 2636

C 76 L 14

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Streamlining statutorily required environmental reports by government entities.

Sponsors: Representatives Smith, Tarleton and Morrell; by request of Department of Ecology.

House Committee on Environment

Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications

Background:

The Department of Ecology (DOE) is responsible for the administration of a long list of statutes that affect the state's environment. The DOE's administrative responsibilities include the management of air quality, water resources, recycling, waste reduction and reuse, and many other environmental programs. Statutes that establish the DOE's program management responsibilities include a variety of procedural and administrative requirements. Many of these statutes also require the DOE or other government agencies to periodically report to the Legislature or the Governor on program activities. Examples of the DOE's reporting responsibilities include:

• a biennial report on aquatic algae control activities;

• two biennial reports on waste reduction, litter control, and recycling efforts by the DOE, other state agencies, and local governments;

• a biennial report on local government waste reduction, litter, and recycling programs funded through the DOE;

• an annual report on the air operating permit program authorized under the Clean Air Act;

• a biennial report on the status and progress of the waste tire pile cleanup program;

• an annual report on tire recycling reuse and recycling rates;

• a biennial progress report on the use of fees collected and spent on the administration of biosolids permitting;

• a biennial report on the ability of water banking programs to assist in providing water supplies;

• a biennial report on a Whitman County pilot project that exempts domestic water use for certain clustered residential development from groundwater permitting;

• a biennial progress report on the activities of the Washington Stormwater Center;

• a biennial report on the activities of water conservancy boards;

• a biennial report on watershed planning activities;

• several status reports on watershed planning and water rights processing, which were due between 2001 and 2004; and

• a status report on vehicle greenhouse gas emission labeling, which was due in 2008.

Summary:

The following reports to the Legislature are eliminated entirely:

• the DOE aquatic algae control report;

• a DOE report on local government waste reduction, litter, and recycling programs that are funded through the DOE;

• the DOE biennial report on watershed planning activities;

• an annual DOE tire recycling report; and

• an annual report on the availability of cars that meet state-adopted California motor vehicle emission standards.

The following reports or information must now be posted online, rather than submitted to the Legislature:

• the statewide waste reduction, litter control, and recycling report;

• the DOE biennial report on waste tire pile cleanup, which is also made less comprehensive through the elimination of requirements that the report specifically include a programmatic needs assessment, a description of ongoing tire fire prevention efforts, and a listing of recently discovered waste tire fires;

• information on biosolid permitting;

• information on water banking;

• information on a Whitman County pilot project that exempts domestic water use for certain clustered residential development from groundwater permitting;

• information on water conservancy board activities; and

• the DOE and local air authority periodic reports on air operating programs;

Other changes to existing program and reporting requirements include:

• The statewide litter survey is conducted periodically rather than biennially.

• Requirements are eliminated for other state agencies to periodically report certain litter collection information to the DOE.

• Statutory language is removed which describes an outdated status report on greenhouse gas emission labeling for vehicles sold in Washington and outdated status reports on watershed planning.

• A biennial stormwater center progress report to the Legislature is eliminated, and the DOE and stormwater center partners are instead directed to inform legislative committees of program progress.

Votes on Final Passage: