Title 70A — Title 70A ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

(1) Each person has a fundamental and inalienable right to a healthful environment, and each person has a responsibility to preserve and enhance that right. The beneficial stewardship of the land, air, and waters of the state is a solemn obligation of the present generation for t…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Agreed order" means an order issued by the department under this chapter with which the potentially liable person or prospective purchaser receiving the order agrees t…

(1) The department may exercise the following powers in addition to any other powers granted by law:(a) Investigate, provide for investigating, or require potentially liable persons to investigate any releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances, including but not limi…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, the following persons are liable with respect to a facility:(a) The owner or operator of the facility;(b) Any person who owned or operated the facility at the time of disposal or release of the hazardous substances;(c) Any…

(1) With respect to any release, or threatened release, for which the department does not conduct or contract for conducting remedial action and for which the department believes remedial action is in the public interest, the director must issue orders or agreed orders requiring …

(1) It is in the public interest for the department to recover remedial action costs incurred in discharging its responsibility under this chapter, as these recovered funds can then be applied to the cleanup of other facilities. Thus, in addition to other cost-recovery mechanisms…

The department's investigative and remedial decisions under RCW 70A.305.030 and 70A.305.050, its decisions regarding filing a lien under RCW 70A.305.060, and its decisions regarding liable persons under RCW 70A.305.020, 70A.305.040, 70A.305.050, and 70A.305.060 shall be reviewabl…

Except as provided in RCW 70A.305.040(4) (d) and (f), a person may bring a private right of action, including a claim for contribution or for declaratory relief, against any other person liable under RCW 70A.305.040 for the recovery of remedial action costs. In the action, natura…

(1) A person conducting a remedial action at a facility under a consent decree, order, or agreed order, and the department when it conducts a remedial action, are exempt from the procedural requirements of chapters 70A.15, 70A.205, 70A.300, 77.55, 90.48, and 90.58 RCW, and the pr…

In providing grants to local governments, the department shall require grant recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into their grant applications, and the department shall utilize the statement of environmental benefit[s] in its prioritization and sel…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, any owner or operator of a facility that is actively transitioning from operating under a federal permit for treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste issued under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 6925 to operating under the provis…

When administering funds under this chapter, the department shall give preference only to Puget Sound partners, as defined in RCW 90.71.010, in comparison to other entities that are eligible to be included in the definition of Puget Sound partner. Entities that are not eligible t…

(1) The cleanup settlement account is created in the state treasury. The account is not intended to replace the model toxics control capital account established under RCW 70A.305.190. All receipts from the sources identified in subsection (2) of this section must be deposited int…

(1) A city or county may designate a geographic area within its jurisdiction as a redevelopment opportunity zone if the zone meets the criteria in this subsection and the city or county adopts a resolution that includes the following determinations and commitments:(a) At least fi…

(1) A city, county, or port district may establish by resolution a brownfield renewal authority for the purpose of guiding and implementing the cleanup and reuse of properties within a designated redevelopment opportunity zone. Any combination of cities, counties, and port distri…

(1) The department may establish a program to provide informal advice and assistance on the administrative and technical requirements of this chapter to persons who are conducting or otherwise interested in conducting independent remedial actions at facilities where there is a su…

(1) The model toxics control operating account is hereby created in the state treasury.(2) Moneys in the model toxics control operating account must be used only to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to the following:(a) The state's responsibility f…

(1) The model toxics control capital account is hereby created in the state treasury.(2) In addition to the funds deposited into the model toxics control capital account required under RCW 82.21.030, the following moneys must be deposited into the model toxics control capital acc…

(1) The model toxics control stormwater account is hereby created in the state treasury.(2) Moneys in the model toxics control stormwater account must be used for operating and capital programs, activities, and projects identified in subsection (3) of this section directly relati…

This act shall be known as "the model toxics control act."[ 1989 c 2 s 22 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988). Formerly RCW 70.105D.900.]

As used in this act, captions constitute no part of the law.[ 1989 c 2 s 21 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988). Formerly RCW 70.105D.905.]

The provisions of this act are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies and purposes of this act. In the event of conflict between the provisions of this act and any other act, the provisions of this act shall govern.[ 1989 c 2 s 19 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approve…

The consent orders and decrees in effect on March 1, 1989, shall remain valid and binding.[ 1989 c 2 s 20 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988). Formerly RCW 70.105D.915.]

(1) Sections 1 through 24 of this act shall take effect March 1, 1989, except that the director of ecology and the director of revenue may take whatever actions may be necessary to ensure that sections 1 through 24 of this act are implemented on their effective date.*(2) This sec…