PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
COMMISSION
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Rules relating to regulated solid waste collection companies (including but not limited to those companies transporting municipal solid waste; medical waste; biohazardous waste; residential recyclables; yardwaste; construction, demolition and land clearing debris; and other wastes) will be reviewed for content and readability pursuant to Executive Order 97-02, with attention to the rules' need; effectiveness and efficiency; clarity; intent and statutory authority; coordination; cost; and fairness. All provisions currently codified in chapter 480-70 WAC might be affected. The review will include consideration of whether substantive changes or additions are required for solid waste regulation, especially (but not limited to) provisions relating to: Definitions; compliance and enforcement; driver, equipment and company safety issues; policies, processes and procedures regarding certificates of public convenience and necessity; tariffs and rate filings; transportation of biomedical and/or biohazardous wastes; and consumer protection and information issues.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 80.01.040, 81.04.160.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Executive Order 97-02 requires agencies to review significant rules with attention to the standards set out above. This includes reviewing whether current rules provide the results that they were originally intended to achieve and whether the rules are consistent with laws and with appropriate and lawful policies.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: State Departments of Health, Labor and Industries, State Patrol and Ecology and the Federal Highway Administration. The commission will invite each of those agencies to participate actively in the rule making.
Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study; and the commission will ask for initial written comments, and will provide the opportunity for additional comments. The commission will schedule one or more workshops with representatives of affected constituencies in a manner designed to develop consensus among affected interests regarding any rule proposal.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting the Secretary, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, P.O. Box 47250, Olympia, WA 98504-7250, (360) 664-1174, fax (360) 586-1150. Such persons may submit comments, as specified below, or may ask to be included in the commission's list of interested persons for the proceeding.
Written Comments: Written comments in response to the CR-101 from persons interested in the subject matter of this proposed rule making may be filed with the commission secretary, referencing Docket No. TG-990161, not later than April 28, 1999. All persons filing comments are asked, but not required, to file an original and ten copies of their written comments. The commission also requests, but does not require, that comments be provided on a 3 1/2 inch IBM formatted high-density disk, in WordPerfect version 5.1, 6.0 or 6.1, labeled with the docket number of this proceeding and the commenter's name and type of software used. The commission may offer additional opportunities to provide written comments. Interested persons may file additional written comments in response to any such invitation. Interested persons may also attend and participate in workshops that will be scheduled at various times throughout the course of this rule making. The commission will provide written notice of workshops to all commenters and to any other persons specifically asking to receive notice in this rule making proceeding.
Notice of Proposed Preproposal Workshops: The commission has scheduled workshops in four cities during the month of May 1999 during which interested persons may appear and present written comments. Additional workshops may be held as this rule making process proceeds. At this time, workshops are planned for:
| City | Location | Date/time | Discussion topics |
| Vancouver | Avalon at St. James Pl. 4607 N.E. St. James Rd. Vancouver, WA | May 17 - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Commercial and residential solid waste; commercial container service, commercial drop box service; residential recycling; residential yard waste service |
| Vancouver | Avalon at St. James Pl. 4607 N.E. St. James Rd. Vancouver, WA | May 18 - 8:30 a.m. - noon | Collection and transportation of medical and biohazardous waste |
| Yakima | Department of Transportation Maintenance Facility 900 East Selah Road East Selah, WA | May 19 - 8:00 a.m. - noon | Commercial and residential solid waste; commercial container service, commercial drop box service; residential recycling; residential yard waste service |
| Yakima | Department of Transportation Maintenance Facility 900 East Selah Road East Selah, WA | May 19 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Collection and transportation of medical and biohazardous waste |
| Spokane | Cheney Cowles Museum 2316 West 1st Avenue Spokane, WA | May 20 - 1:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m. | Commercial and residential solid waste; commercial container service, commercial drop box service; residential recycling; residential yard waste service |
| Spokane | Cheney Cowles Museum 2316 West 1st Avenue Spokane, WA | May 21 - 8:00 a.m. - noon | Collection and transportation of medical and biohazardous waste |
| Everett | Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center 101 128th Street S.E. Everett, WA | May 24 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Commercial and residential solid waste; commercial container service, commercial drop box service; residential recycling; residential yard waste service |
| Everett | Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center 101 128th Street S.E. Everett, WA | May 24 - 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Collection and transportation of medical and biohazardous waste |
TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NOTICES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RULE MAKING --The commission wants to ensure its mailings are sent to persons who are interested in the topic and want to receive that information. ANY PERSON WHO COMMENTS will continue to receive notices and information. If you do not submit comments but wish to remain on the mailing list for this rule making, please advise the Records Center by any one of the following methods: (1) Send a note with your name, address (or a copy of your mailing label), and telephone and fax numbers referencing Docket No. TG-990161, and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list"; or (2) e-mail your name, address, telephone and fax numbers, referencing Docket No. TG-990161, and the words "Please keep me on the mailing list" to records@wutc.wa.gov. Please note that all information in the mailings will be accessible through the commission's Internet web site at <http://www.wutc.wa.gov/>. THOSE PARTIES WHO DO NOT RESPOND MAY NOT RECEIVE FURTHER MAILINGS OR INFORMATION ON THE RULE MAKING.
March 26, 1999
C. Robert Wallace
for Carole Washburn
Secretary