HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5941

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler and Bottiger)

Revising provisions on hazardous waste.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, Pruitt, D. Sommers and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments by Committee on Environmental Affairs and as further amended by Committee on Ways and Means/Appropriations.  (20)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Ebersole, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, McLean, McMullen, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, Sprenkle and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7137)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 17, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In October of 1986 Congress passed the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), which provides a new program for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites in the nation.  SARA includes a requirement that all states must demonstrate that they have the capacity to destroy, treat, or dispose all hazardous wastes generated in the state over the next 20 years.  This may be accomplished by use of facilities within the state or through an interstate or regional agreement with other states.  If a state fails to ensure adequate capacity to handle their wastes by October of 1989, the state will be ineligible for federal Superfund monies to conduct cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

State law requires the Department of Ecology to prepare a state hazardous waste management plan by July 1, 1987.  The plan will include an inventory of existing hazardous waste facilities and a forecast of future needs.  Local governments are likewise required to prepare a local hazardous waste management plan.  If adequate funding is provided by the legislature, the local plans must be completed by July 1, 1990.

The department does not currently have authority to charge fees for notices, reports, permits, applications, inspections or other activities under the Hazardous Waste Management Act.  However, the department may, under the Hazardous Waste Fee Act, charge fees to persons who generate hazardous waste, or who obtain a permit to treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Ecology is directed to identify methods of providing the necessary facilities to handle the state's hazardous wastes.  The department will consider 1) the feasibility of disposing hazardous wastes within the state, 2) cooperating with other states in the region in regional disposal options, 3) options for private contractors to develop facilities, 4) strategies to expedite the issuance of permits for hazardous waste facilities, 5) methods used by other states to deal with hazardous waste disposal, 6) incentives for the development of hazardous waste facilities, and 7) other methods to provide the state with the necessary capacity to deal with hazardous wastes.

The department must consult with representatives of the waste treatment and disposal industry, hazardous waste generators, and the environmental community while conducting this study.  The department is authorized to collect information from waste generators and other waste handlers.

The director of the department is directed to prepare a plan to establish hazardous waste fees.  Fees may be charged for notices, reports, permits, applications, inspections or other activities required by the Hazardous Waste Management Act.  The fees must be reasonable and may not exceed the amount of public funds used to pay for the program.  The director must implement the plan within 90 days of the effective date of this act.

The department will report its findings to the legislature by December 15, 1987.  The report will also include a progress report on the development of the state and local hazardous waste management plans.

Fiscal Note:      Requested April 6, 1987.

Effective Date:The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Environmental Affairs)  Department of Ecology; Western Agricultural Chemical Association; and Farwest Fertilizers.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Errett Deck, Western Agricultural Chemical Association; Tom Eaton, Department of Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Environmental Affairs)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Environmental Affairs)  It is important to ensure that the state is capable of handling its wastes.  Allowing the Department of Ecology to collect permit fees will provide a more expeditious permit process.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  Same as presented Committee on Environmental Affairs.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Environmental Affairs)  None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations)  None Presented.