HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 516

BYRepresentatives Rust, Allen, Unsoeld, May and Todd; by request of Puget Sound Water Quality Authority

Revising penalties for violation of water pollution statutes.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (14)

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

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 15, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Puget Sound Water Quality Authority recently completed a water quality management plan for Puget Sound.  One of the major problem areas identified was municipal and industrial discharges of pollutants.

Although control of conventional pollutants has greatly improved, toxic pollutants remain a problem in Puget Sound.  The concentration of toxicants found in recent sediment samples from Puget Sound's urban bays is up to 100 times the levels in the cleanest rural bays.  High concentrations of toxic contaminants have been associated with high incidences of diseased fish, and may pose health risks to consumers of Puget Sound seafood.

The authority attributes part of this problem to weak and inconsistent enforcement, and to the fact that there are no felony provisions in state law for serious, willful violations.  Currently, willful violations of the Water Pollution Control Act are punishable as a crime with a maximum penalty of $10,000 or one year imprisonment, or both.

SUMMARY:

Willful violations of the Water Pollution Control Act are punishable as a Class C Felony and subject to fines of up to $10,000 or five years imprisonment, or both.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, Puget Sound Alliance.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Federal law allows for felony provisions for willful violations of water laws.  This provision in state law is necessary for effective enforcement.  Strong penalties are good incentives for compliance.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.