Title 70A, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

All acquisitions by port districts pursuant to RCW 53.08.040 may, at the option of a port commission, be deemed to be made under this chapter, or under both: PROVIDED, That nothing contained in this chapter shall impair rights or obligations under contracts entered into before Ma…

The legislature declares that competent operation of waste treatment plants plays an important part in the protection of the environment of the state and therefore it is of vital interest to the public. In order to protect the public health and to conserve and protect the water r…

As used in this chapter unless context requires another meaning: (1) "Certificate" means a certificate of competency issued by the director stating that the operator has met the requirements for the specified operator classification of the certification program. (2) "Department" …

As provided for in this chapter, the individual on-site at a wastewater treatment plant who is designated by the owner as the operator in responsible charge of the operation and maintenance of the plant on a routine basis shall be certified at a level equal to or higher than the …

The director shall adopt and enforce such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter. The rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for the qualification and certification of operators for different classification…

The director shall classify all wastewater treatment plants with regard to the size, type, and other conditions affecting the complexity of such treatment plants and the skill, knowledge, and experience required of an operator to operate such facilities to protect the public heal…

The director is authorized when taking action pursuant to RCW 70A.212.040 and 70A.212.050 to consider generally applicable criteria and guidelines developed by a nationally recognized association of certification authorities. [ 2020 c 20 s 1207; 1973 c 139 s 6. Formerly RCW 70.95…

The director, in cooperation with the secretary of health, may establish ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary, to obtain advice and technical assistance regarding the examination and certification of operators of wastewater treatment plants. [ 1995 c 269 s 2908. Formerly RCW …

Certificates shall be issued without examination under the following conditions: (1) Certificates, in appropriate classifications, shall be issued without application fee to operators who, on July 1, 1973, hold certificates of competency attained by examination under the voluntar…

The issuance and renewal of a certificate shall be subject to the following conditions: (1) A certificate shall be issued if the operator has satisfactorily passed a written examination, or has met the requirements of RCW 70A.212.080, and has met the requirements specified in the…

(1) The department shall establish and collect fees for the issuance and renewal of wastewater treatment plant operator certificates as provided for in RCW 70A.212.090. The department, with the advice of an advisory committee, shall establish an initial fee schedule by rule. Fees…

The director may, after conducting a hearing, revoke a certificate found to have been obtained by fraud or deceit, or for gross negligence in the operation of a waste treatment plant, or for violating the requirements of this chapter or any lawful rule, order or regulation of the…

To carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter, the director is authorized and empowered to: (1) Enter into agreements, contracts, or cooperative arrangements, under such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate with other state, federal, or interstate age…

The director shall immediately suspend the license or certificate of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order or a *residential or visitation order. If the …

On and after one year following July 1, 1973, it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, municipal corporation, or other governmental subdivision or agency to operate a wastewater treatment plant unless the individuals identified in RCW 70A.212.030 are duly certified…

On or after July 1, 1973, certification of operators by any state which, as determined by the director, accepts certifications made or certification requirements deemed satisfied pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, shall be accorded reciprocal treatment and shall be recog…

Any person, including any firm, corporation, municipal corporation, or other governmental subdivision or agency violating any provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted hereunder, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Each day of operation in such violation of this cha…

The wastewater treatment plant operator certification account is created in the state treasury. All fees paid pursuant to RCW 70A.212.100 and any other receipts realized in the administration of this chapter must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent o…

This 1973 act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect on July 1, 1973. [ 1973 c 139 s 17. Formerly RCW 70.95B.900.]

The legislature finds that land disposal and incineration of solid and hazardous waste can be both harmful to the environment and costly to those who must dispose of the waste. In order to address this problem in the most cost-effective and environmentally sound manner, and to im…

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Department" means the department of ecology. (2) "Director" means the director of the department of ecology or the director's designee. (3) "Dangerous wast…

(1) There is established in the department an office of waste reduction. The office shall use its authorities to encourage the voluntary reduction of hazardous substance usage and waste generation by waste generators and hazardous substance users. The office shall prepare and sub…

(1) The office shall establish a waste reduction and hazardous substance use reduction consultation program to be coordinated with other state waste reduction and hazardous substance use reduction consultation programs. (2) The director may grant a request by any waste generator …

The office, in coordination with all other state waste reduction technical assistance programs, shall sponsor technical workshops and seminars on waste reduction techniques that have been successfully used to eliminate or reduce substantially the amount of waste or toxicity of ha…

(1) The office shall establish a statewide waste reduction hotline with the capacity to refer waste generators and the public to sources of information on specific waste reduction techniques and procedures. The hotline shall coordinate with all other state waste hotlines. (2) The…

(1) The office may administer a waste reduction research and development program. The director may contract with any public or private organization for the purpose of developing methods and technologies that achieve waste reduction. All research performed and all methods or techn…

(1) The director may solicit and accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises, in trust or otherwise, to be directed to the office of waste reduction. (2) The director may enter into contracts with any public or private organization to carry out the purposes of this c…

The legislature finds and declares that the buildings and facilities owned and leased by state government produce significant amounts of solid and hazardous wastes, and actions must be taken to reduce and recycle these wastes and thus reduce the costs associated with their dispos…

(1) The office of waste reduction shall develop, in consultation with the superintendent of public instruction, an awards program to achieve waste reduction and recycling in public schools, and to encourage waste reduction and recycling in private schools, grades kindergarten thr…

(1) Each hazardous waste generator who generates more than two thousand six hundred forty pounds of hazardous waste per year and each hazardous substance user, except for those facilities that are primarily permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facilities or recycling facili…

A person required to prepare a plan under RCW 70A.214.110 because of the quantity of hazardous waste generated may petition the director to be excused from this requirement. The person must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the director that the quantity of hazardous waste gener…

(1) The department may review a plan, executive summary, or an annual progress report to determine whether the plan, executive summary, or annual progress report is adequate pursuant to the rules developed under this section and with the provisions of RCW 70A.214.110. In determin…

A user or generator may appeal from a department order or a surcharge under RCW 70A.214.130 to the pollution control hearings board pursuant to chapter 43.21B RCW. [ 2020 c 20 s 1219; 1990 c 114 s 9. Formerly RCW 70.95C.230.]

(1) The department shall make available for public inspection any executive summary or annual progress report submitted to the department. Any hazardous substance user or hazardous waste generator required to prepare an executive summary or annual progress report who believes tha…

(1) Not later than January 1, 1995, the department shall designate an industry type and up to ten individual facilities within that industry type to be the focus of a pilot multimedia program. The program shall be designed to coordinate department actions related to environmental…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Certificate" means a certificate of competency issued by the director stating that the operator has met the requirements for the specified operator classification of …

(1) By January 1, 1992, the owner or operator of a solid waste incineration facility shall employ a certified operator. At a minimum, the individual on-site at a solid waste incineration facility who is designated by the owner as the operator in responsible charge of the operatio…

(1) By January 1, 1992, the owner or operator of a landfill shall employ a certified landfill operator. (2) For each of the following types of landfills defined in existing regulations: Inert, demolition waste, problem waste, and municipal solid waste, the department shall adopt …

(1) The department shall establish a process to certify incinerator and landfill operators. To the greatest extent possible, the department shall rely on the certification standards and procedures developed by national organizations and the federal government. (2) Operators shall…

The director may establish ad hoc advisory committees, as necessary, to obtain advice and technical assistance on the certification of solid waste incinerator and landfill operators. [ 1995 c 269 s 2804. Formerly RCW 70.95D.051.] Notes: Effective date—Part headings not law—Severa…

(1) The director may revoke a certificate: (a) If it were found to have been obtained by fraud or deceit; (b) For gross negligence in the operation of a solid waste incinerator or landfill; (c) For violating the requirements of this chapter or any lawful rule or order of the depa…

Any person who is employed by a public agency to inspect the operation of a landfill or a solid waste incinerator to determine the compliance of the facility with state or local laws or rules shall be required to be certified in the same manner as an operator under this chapter. …

To carry out the provisions and purposes of this chapter, the director may: (1) Enter into agreements, contracts, or cooperative arrangements, under such terms and conditions as the director deems appropriate, with other state, federal, or interstate agencies, municipalities, edu…

After January 1, 1992, it is unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, municipal corporation, or other governmental subdivision or agency to operate a solid waste incineration or landfill facility unless the operators are duly certified by the director under this chapter or any…

(1) Any person, including any firm, corporation, municipal corporation, or other governmental subdivision or agency, with the exception of incinerator operators, violating any provision of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (2) Any i…

All receipts realized in the administration of this chapter shall be paid into the general fund. [ 1989 c 431 s 75. Formerly RCW 70.95D.110.]