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County public-health and solid waste staff warn bill could let Ecology override local decisions on waste facilities
Summary
Spokane County public-health and solid waste officials told commissioners a proposed state bill would allow the Department of Ecology to step in and enforce rules at solid-waste hauling and transfer facilities, potentially creating a ‘‘dual enforcement’’ regime and undermining local planning and cost estimates.
Deb (county solid-waste/health jurisdiction staff) told the commissioners that language in a bill under consideration — which began as an Ecology enforcement tool for a single problematic landfill — has been broadened to apply to any solid waste facility if left unchanged.
Deb said the change "gives Ecology the authority to just act, if they feel our local health jurisdiction is inadequate in their response," and that "the language allows almost like a dual enforcement for us." She warned that local planning and investments could be up-ended if Ecology later required additional work or mitigation beyond what local health authorities had approved.
The nut graf: county staff and commissioners expressed concern that a statewide statutory change crafted in response to problems at a single site could unintentionally override established local permitting and planning roles, raising potential cost and timing impacts for county facilities.
Deb said several amendments have been proposed by WASAC and WASOLFO to narrow or clarify the circumstances under which Ecology could step in, but she said those amendments had not yet been adopted. Commissioners voiced support for pursuing clarifying language. One commissioner said, "I would support pushing back or wanting that language in there," noting the county’s desire to preserve local planning authority.
Ending: County staff said they would coordinate with the Association of Counties and local solid-waste stakeholders to press for amendments that would limit state intervention to narrowly defined circumstances; commissioners signaled support for that outreach.
