HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 832

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Sprenkle, Allen, Rust, Grant, Unsoeld and Todd)

Penalizing governmental entities for the unauthorized disposal of solid waste.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (13)

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

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY, 18, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under current law it is unlawful for any person to dispose of solid waste except at a permitted disposal site.  Persons are not prohibited from disposing of their own garbage on their own land as long as the disposal does not violate any law or create a nuisance.  Any person violating these provisions is guilty of a misdemeanor.

SUMMARY:

In addition to dumping solid waste, it is also illegal for persons to transport waste to any facility that does not have a permit issued under the Solid Waste Management Act.  The penalty provisions are increased from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor, and a maximum civil penalty of $10,000 is added.

Fiscal Note:    Requested February 25, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Washington Association of Counties; Snohomish County Council.

House Committee - Testified Against: None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:     We need to ensure that garbage is not transported to a nonpermitted facility.

House Committee - Testimony Against: None Presented.