HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 1053

BYHouse Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Rasmussen, Madsen, Walker, Hine, Meyers and Grimm)

Requiring a conditional use permit for an incinerator or landfill in unincorporated areas.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Bumgarner, Ferguson, Hine, Madsen, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Rayburn, L. Smith and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 11, 1987

BACKGROUND:

Counties are authorized by different laws to plan and zone.  A conditional-use permit usually means an authorization to conduct some type of activity in a given land-use zone if certain conditions are met.

SUMMARY:

The operation of an incinerator or landfill with an annual capacity of five or more tons, that is located in the unincorporated area of a county, is subject to a conditional use permit issued by the county.  The issuance or denial of such a permit is subject to appeal to the county legislative authority.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Rasmussen, Prime Sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    We are just discovering how dangerous landfills are.  Residents near a proposed landfill and owners of nearby property should have a public hearing at which their concerns can be aired.  Some counties already site such facilities by conditional-use permits.  No hearing is required otherwise.  The county commissioners hear any appeals.  Eastern Washington and less dense areas need this protection.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Let the locals handle this on their own.