S-3722               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4790

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Kreidler, Bluechel and Talmadge

Read first time 1/22/86 and referred to Committee on Parks & Ecology.

AN ACT Relating to sludge; and adding a new section to chapter 70.95 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added tochapter 70.95 RCW to read as follows:

          After January 1, 1988, it is unlawful to dispose of municipal sewage sludge or septic tank sludge (septage) in landfills for final disposal.

          The department of ecology shall adopt rules that provide exemptions from this section on a case-by-case basis.  Exemptions shall be based on the economic infeasibility of using or disposing of the sludge material other than in a landfill.

          The department of ecology shall adopt rules for the environmentally safe use of municipal sewage sludge and septage in this state.

          The department of ecology shall adopt rules for the environmentally safe use of appropriate industrial sludges, such as pulp and paper sludges or food processing wastes, used to improve the texture or nutrient content of soils.

          The department of ecology, in conjunction with the department of social and health services and the department of agriculture, shall adopt rules establishing labeling and notification requirements for sludge material sold commercially or given away to the public.  The department shall specify mandatory wording for labels and notification to warn the public against improper use of the material.