HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 832

BYRepresentatives 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 REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MARCH 3, 1987

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:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  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.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The original bill clarified who was covered by these provisions of the Solid Waste Management Act, but did not have any impact on current law.

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.