SB 6219
In CommitteeSenate
Pollution prevent. planning
Repealing the pollution prevention planning requirements under chapter 70A.214 RCW.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill repeals Washington’s Pollution Prevention Planning Act (Chapter 70A.214 RCW), which required certain businesses to develop and submit voluntary plans to reduce hazardous waste. The legislature determined the planning requirement is now obsolete and overly burdensome, as other programs already incentivize waste reduction. The bill also updates related laws to remove references to the repealed program and redirects funding and responsibilities accordingly.
- Repeals Chapter 70A.214 RCW, which established the pollution prevention planning program, including all related sections (e.g., voluntary reduction plans, workshops, hotline, research program, appeals process, and public reporting requirements).
- Removes references to Chapter 70A.214 RCW in multiple other statutes, including those governing the Pollution Control Hearings Board’s jurisdiction, hazardous waste fee collection, and the Model Toxics Control accounts.
- Amends RCW 70A.15.2280 to remove requirement that air emission recommendations be consistent with the now-repealed pollution prevention rules.
- Revises RCW 70A.218.020 to eliminate the fee exemption for low-revenue businesses and removes language directing fee revenue to the Office of Waste Reduction.
- Updates the Model Toxics Control Operating and Capital Accounts to remove references to Chapter 70A.214 RCW in funding purposes and realigns priorities for toxic site cleanup and local assistance programs.
- Amends RCW 78.56.100 to remove the requirement for mining operators to complete a voluntary reduction plan under the now-repealed Chapter 70A.214 RCW.
Who is affected
- Hazardous waste generators — Businesses that generate hazardous waste will no longer be required to submit annual pollution prevention plans or pay associated fees, reducing administrative burden and costs.
- Department of Ecology — The Department of Ecology will no longer manage or enforce the pollution prevention planning program, shifting its focus to other environmental programs and enforcement tools.
- Local governments and small businesses — Local governments and small businesses that previously received technical assistance or grants through the now-repealed program will no longer receive that specific support, though broader assistance remains available under other statutes.
- Pollution Control Hearings Board — The Pollution Control Hearings Board will no longer hear appeals related to pollution prevention planning orders or surcharges, streamlining its caseload.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (3)
Eliminating the annual $35 hazardous waste generator fee and associated planning requirements reduces administrative burden and compliance costs for small businesses and sole proprietors that generate minimal hazardous waste—many of whom found the program redundant given other regulatory requirements.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.110); Sec. 4 (amended RCW 70A.218.020)Removing the Pollution Control Hearings Board’s jurisdiction over pollution prevention planning appeals streamlines regulatory appeals and reduces litigation risk for businesses and agencies, potentially lowering legal costs and delays in enforcement actions.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.140); Sec. 2 (revised RCW 43.21B.110)Eliminating redundant reporting and planning requirements reduces duplication with existing hazardous waste and air quality regulations, allowing state and local staff to focus on higher-priority environmental enforcement and compliance activities.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.030–.160); Sec. 12 (full repeal of Chapter 70A.214 RCW)
Potential Concerns (5)
Removal of mandatory pollution prevention planning and associated technical assistance reduces proactive hazard mitigation for facilities handling hazardous substances, potentially increasing risk of accidental releases that threaten community health and safety.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.030, 70A.214.040, 70A.214.050, 70A.214.060, 70A.214.070, 70A.214.110, 70A.214.120, 70A.214.130, 70A.214.150, 70A.218.030); Sec. 7 (amended RCW 70A.218.070)Elimination of the hazardous waste generator fee ($35/year) and removal of fee revenue dedicated to the Office of Waste Reduction will reduce state funding for technical assistance and compliance support, disproportionately harming small businesses and local governments that relied on those services to meet environmental regulations.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 4 (amended RCW 70A.218.020); Sec. 7 (amended RCW 70A.218.070)Repealing the voluntary reduction plan requirement removes a long-standing, low-cost incentive for businesses to reduce hazardous waste generation, potentially slowing progress in reducing toxic releases—especially in sectors like mining and manufacturing where the program previously provided structured guidance.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.110); Sec. 11 (amended RCW 78.56.100)Local governments that received grants and technical assistance through the now-repealed program (e.g., for small quantity generator compliance and moderate-risk waste planning) will lose access to targeted support, increasing their burden to develop and administer hazardous waste programs independently.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (repeal of RCW 70A.214.030–.160); Sec. 7 (amended RCW 70A.218.070)While the bill retains Model Toxics Control Account funding for cleanup, removing references to Chapter 70A.214 RCW eliminates statutory linkage between pollution prevention and cleanup priorities, weakening the program’s ability to incentivize upstream waste reduction as part of a comprehensive toxics strategy.
EnvironmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 9 (amended RCW 70A.305.180); Sec. 10 (amended RCW 70A.305.190)
Who Is Most Affected
Small businesses and sole proprietors generating minimal hazardous waste benefit from reduced administrative burden and $35/year fee, but lose access to free technical assistance that helped them comply with other environmental regulations.
Local governments lose dedicated funding and technical support for hazardous waste programs, increasing their operational burden and potentially reducing local capacity to enforce environmental standards.
The Department of Ecology gains operational flexibility by consolidating resources, but loses a long-standing program that provided tailored outreach and low-cost compliance support to small entities.
Mining and metals processing operators retain pollution prevention obligations under other statutes (e.g., RCW 78.56.100), but lose the structured, low-cost planning framework that previously guided best practices.
Environmental justice communities near industrial sites may face higher exposure risk if reduced upstream prevention leads to increased toxic releases, though existing regulatory enforcement remains unchanged.