HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 15

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Rust, Allen, Valle, Unsoeld, Brekke, Lux, Pruitt, Jacobsen and Heavey)

Requiring hazardous waste management priorities to be followed.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

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

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, May, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 2, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1983, the legislature passed a bill to establish the following priorities for hazardous waste management:  1) waste reduction (highest priority), 2) recycling, 3) treatment, 4) incineration, 5) solidification/stabilization, and 6) landfill (lowest priority).  The legislation stated that the priorities are necessary and should be followed as applicable.

The legislation also directed the Department of Ecology to conduct a study of the best management practices for categories of wastes in order to implement the priorities.  The study was completed last July and rules to implement the priorities are required by July 1, 1987.

The study's conclusions included three sets of recommendations.  First, the study recommended a variety of information dissemination programs.  Second, financial and economic incentives were recommended that include a new fee assessment on waste generators who landfill wastes.  Third, the study recommended prohibiting certain wastes from land disposal.  In addition, the Department of Ecology would have the option to implement an approval process for all hazardous wastes going to a hazardous waste landfill in Washington.  Except for the limited prohibitions on land disposal of certain wastes, no mandatory requirements for the implementation of the priorities are recommended.

SUMMARY:

After July 1, 1988, the hazardous waste management priorities must be followed unless an exemption is granted by the Department of Ecology.  The department will adopt rules to establish criteria for exemptions if an unreasonable economic burden is demonstrated. The rules required to be adopted by July of 1987 will identify the appropriate management priority for each category of waste.

Fiscal Note:    Requested January 28, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Representative Rust; Washington Environmental Council; Sierra Club.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     It was the original intent of the legislature for the priorities to be implemented.  Voluntary actions based on incentives does not comply with legislative intent.  Implementation of the study's recommendations will serve to discourage landfills but they fail to encourage the highest priorities.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.