Title 70A, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

The department in performing its duties under this chapter may: (1) Conduct studies and coordinate research programs pertaining to extremely hazardous waste management; (2) Render technical assistance to generators of dangerous and extremely hazardous wastes and to state and loca…

The department of ecology shall regulate under this chapter, wastes generated from the salvaging, rebuilding, or discarding of transformers or capacitors that have been sold or otherwise transferred for salvage or disposal after the completion or termination of their useful lives…

The department of ecology may regulate all hazardous wastes, including those composed of both radioactive and hazardous components, to the extent it is not preempted by federal law. [ 1987 c 488 s 2. Formerly RCW 70.105.109.]

(1) Nothing in this chapter shall alter, amend, or supersede the provisions of chapter 80.50 RCW, except that, notwithstanding any provision of chapter 80.50 RCW, regulation of dangerous wastes associated with energy facilities from generation to disposal shall be solely by the d…

Nothing in this chapter diminishes the authority of the department of social and health services to regulate the radioactive portion of mixed wastes pursuant to chapter 70A.388 RCW. [ 2020 c 20 s 1285; 1987 c 488 s 5. Formerly RCW 70.105.111.]

This chapter does not apply to special incinerator ash regulated under chapter 70A.315 RCW except that, for purposes of RCW 4.22.070(3)(a), special incinerator ash shall be considered hazardous waste. [ 2020 c 20 s 1286; 1987 c 528 s 9. Formerly RCW 70.105.112.]

The procedural requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any person conducting a remedial action at a facility pursuant to a consent decree, order, or agreed order issued pursuant to chapter 70A.305 RCW, or to the department of ecology when it conducts a remedial action und…

At the request of the department, the attorney general is authorized to bring such injunctive, declaratory, or other actions to enforce any requirement of this chapter. [ 1980 c 144 s 2. Formerly RCW 70.105.120.]

(1) The department is designated as the state agency for implementing the federal resource conservation and recovery act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901 et seq.). (2) The power granted to the department by this section is the authority to: (a) Establish a permit system for owners or operato…

Any person who generates, treats, stores, disposes, or otherwise handles dangerous or extremely hazardous wastes shall provide copies of any notification forms, or annual reports that are required pursuant to RCW 70A.300.220 to the fire departments or fire districts that service …

Rules implementing RCW 70A.300.220 shall be submitted to the house and senate committees on ecology for review prior to being adopted in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. [ 2020 c 20 s 1289; 1980 c 144 s 3. Formerly RCW 70.105.140.]

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department of ecology is empowered to participate fully in and is empowered to administer all aspects of the programs of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as it exists on June 7, 1984, (42 U.S.C. Sec. 6901…

The legislature hereby declares that: (1) The health and welfare of the people of the state depend on clean and pure environmental resources unaffected by hazardous waste contamination. Management and regulation of hazardous waste disposal should encourage practices which result …

The department shall conduct a study to determine the best management practices for categories of waste for the priority waste management methods established in RCW 70A.300.260, with due consideration in the course of the study to sound environmental management and available tech…

(1) Independent of the processing or issuance of any or all federal, state, and local permits for disposal of dangerous wastes, no disposal of dangerous wastes at a commercial off-site land disposal facility may be undertaken prior to July 1, 1986, unless: (a) The disposal result…

Consistent with the purposes of RCW 70A.300.260 and 70A.300.270, the department is authorized to promote the priority waste management methods listed in RCW 70A.300.260 by establishing or assisting in the establishment of: (1) Consultative services which, in conjunction with any …

All fines and penalties collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the model toxics control operating account created in RCW 70A.305.180. [ 2020 c 20 s 1294; 1985 c 57 s 70; 1983 1st ex.s. c 70 s 4. Formerly RCW 70.105.180.] Notes: Effective date—1985 c 57: See note follo…

(1) The department shall develop, and shall update at least once every five years, a state hazardous waste management plan. The plan shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following elements: (a) A state inventory and assessment of the capacity of existing facilities to …

By May 31, 1990, the department shall develop and adopt criteria for the siting of hazardous waste management facilities. These criteria will be part of the state hazardous waste management plan as described in RCW 70A.300.310. To the extent practical, these criteria shall be des…

The legislature recognizes the need for new, modified, or expanded facilities to treat, incinerate, or otherwise process or dispose of hazardous substances safely. In order to encourage the development of such facilities, the department shall adopt rules as necessary regarding th…

Nothing in this chapter shall alter or affect the regulatory authority of a county, city, or jurisdictional health district to condition or prohibit the acceptance of hazardous waste in a county or city landfill. [ 1994 c 254 s 7. Formerly RCW 70.105.217.]

(1) Each local government, or combination of contiguous local governments, is directed to prepare a local hazardous waste plan which shall be based on state guidelines and include the following elements: (a) A plan or program to manage moderate-risk wastes that are generated or o…

Local governments and combinations of local governments shall amend their local hazardous waste plans required under RCW 70A.300.350 to comply with RCW 70A.224.020. [ 2020 c 20 s 1298; 1991 c 319 s 312. Formerly RCW 70.105.221.]

(1) Each local government, or combination of contiguous local governments, is directed to: (a) Demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that existing zoning allows designated zone facilities as permitted uses; or (b) designate land use zones within its jurisdiction in wh…

(1) Each local government is directed to submit to the director of the department by October 31, 1987, a letter of intent stating that it intends to (a) identify, or designate if necessary, eligible zones for designated zone facilities no later than June 30, 1988, and (b) submit …

(1) Subject to legislative appropriations, the department may make and administer grants to local governments for (a) preparing and updating local hazardous waste plans, (b) implementing approved local hazardous waste plans, and (c) designating eligible zones for designated zone …

(1) As of July 28, 1985, the state preempts the field of state, regional, or local permitting and regulating of all preempted facilities as defined in this chapter. The department of ecology is designated the sole decision-making authority with respect to permitting and regulatin…

The department may adopt rules to require any person who intends to file an application for a permit for a hazardous waste management facility to file a notice of intent with the department prior to submitting the application. [ 1985 c 448 s 11. Formerly RCW 70.105.245.] Notes: S…

Any disputes between the department and the governing bodies of local governments in regard to the local planning requirements under RCW 70A.300.350 and the designation of zones under RCW 70A.300.370 may be appealed by the department or the governing body of the local government …

The department shall provide technical assistance to local governments in the preparation, review, revision, and implementation of local hazardous waste plans. [ 1985 c 448 s 13. Formerly RCW 70.105.255.] Notes: Severability—1985 c 448: See note following RCW 70A.300.005.

(1) In order to promote identification, discussion, negotiation, and resolution of issues related to siting of hazardous waste management facilities, the department: (a) Shall compile and maintain information on the use and availability of conflict resolution techniques and make …

The requirements of RCW 70A.300.310 through 70A.300.380 and 70A.300.400(4) shall not become mandatory until funding is appropriated by the legislature. [ 2020 c 20 s 1303; 1985 c 448 s 15. Formerly RCW 70.105.270.] Notes: Severability—1985 c 448: See note following RCW 70A.300.00…

(1) The department may assess reasonable service charges against those facilities that store, treat, incinerate, or dispose of dangerous or extremely hazardous waste that contains both a nonradioactive hazardous component and a radioactive component or which are undergoing closur…

If a metals mining and milling operation is issued a permit pursuant to this chapter, then it will be subject to special inspection requirements. The department of ecology shall inspect these mining operations at least quarterly in order to ensure that the operation is in complia…

The radioactive mixed waste account is created within the state treasury. All receipts received from facilities assessed service charges established under RCW 70A.300.460 must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures…

In determining restitution following a criminal conviction under this chapter, the court is authorized to order restitution for harm to natural resources or the environment. [ 2024 c 342 s 3.]

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the hazardous waste management act. [ 1985 c 448 s 16. Formerly RCW 70.105.900.] Notes: Severability—1985 c 448: See note following RCW 70A.300.005.

(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 …

(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 lim…

(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) …

(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…