2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 70.105D.070: Toxics control accounts.

(1) The state toxics control account and the local toxics control account are hereby created in the state treasury.

     (2) The following moneys shall be deposited into the state toxics control account: (a) Those revenues which are raised by the tax imposed under RCW 82.21.030 and which are attributable to that portion of the rate equal to thirty-three one-hundredths of one percent; (b) the costs of remedial actions recovered under this chapter or chapter 70.105A RCW; (c) penalties collected or recovered under this chapter; and (d) any other money appropriated or transferred to the account by the legislature. Moneys in the account may be used only to carry out the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to the following activities:

     (i) The state's responsibility for hazardous waste planning, management, regulation, enforcement, technical assistance, and public education required under chapter 70.105 RCW;

     (ii) The state's responsibility for solid waste planning, management, regulation, enforcement, technical assistance, and public education required under chapter 70.95 RCW;

     (iii) The hazardous waste cleanup program required under this chapter;

     (iv) State matching funds required under the federal cleanup law;

     (v) Financial assistance for local programs in accordance with chapters 70.95, 70.95C, 70.95I, and 70.105 RCW;

     (vi) State government programs for the safe reduction, recycling, or disposal of hazardous wastes from households, small businesses, and agriculture;

     (vii) Hazardous materials emergency response training;

     (viii) Water and environmental health protection and monitoring programs;

     (ix) Programs authorized under chapter 70.146 RCW;

     (x) A public participation program, including regional citizen advisory committees;

     (xi) Public funding to assist potentially liable persons to pay for the costs of remedial action in compliance with cleanup standards under RCW 70.105D.030(2)(e) but only when the amount and terms of such funding are established under a settlement agreement under RCW 70.105D.040(4) and when the director has found that the funding will achieve both (A) a substantially more expeditious or enhanced cleanup than would otherwise occur, and (B) the prevention or mitigation of unfair economic hardship; and

     (xii) Development and demonstration of alternative management technologies designed to carry out the top two hazardous waste management priorities of RCW 70.105.150.

     (3) The following moneys shall be deposited into the local toxics control account: Those revenues which are raised by the tax imposed under RCW 82.21.030 and which are attributable to that portion of the rate equal to thirty-seven one-hundredths of one percent.

     (a) Moneys deposited in the local toxics control account shall be used by the department for grants or loans to local governments for the following purposes in descending order of priority: (i) Remedial actions; (ii) hazardous waste plans and programs under chapter 70.105 RCW; (iii) solid waste plans and programs under chapters 70.95, 70.95C, 70.95I, and 70.105 RCW; (iv) funds for a program to assist in the assessment and cleanup of sites of methamphetamine production, but not to be used for the initial containment of such sites, consistent with the responsibilities and intent of RCW 69.50.511; and (v) cleanup and disposal of hazardous substances from abandoned or derelict vessels that pose a threat to human health or the environment. For purposes of this subsection (3)(a)(v), "abandoned or derelict vessels" means vessels that have little or no value and either have no identified owner or have an identified owner lacking financial resources to clean up and dispose of the vessel. Funds for plans and programs shall be allocated consistent with the priorities and matching requirements established in chapters 70.105, 70.95C, 70.95I, and 70.95 RCW. During the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for the following activities: Conducting a study of whether dioxins occur in fertilizers, soil amendments, and soils; reviewing applications for registration of fertilizers; and conducting a study of plant uptake of metals. During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the local toxics control account to the state toxics control account such amounts as specified in the omnibus capital budget bill. During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for grants to local governments to retrofit public sector diesel equipment and for storm water planning and implementation activities.

     (b) Funds may also be appropriated to the department of health to implement programs to reduce testing requirements under the federal safe drinking water act for public water systems. The department of health shall reimburse the account from fees assessed under RCW 70.119A.115 by June 30, 1995.

     (4) Except for unanticipated receipts under RCW 43.79.260 through 43.79.282, moneys in the state and local toxics control accounts may be spent only after appropriation by statute.

     (5) One percent of the moneys deposited into the state and local toxics control accounts shall be allocated only for public participation grants to persons who may be adversely affected by a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance and to not-for-profit public interest organizations. The primary purpose of these grants is to facilitate the participation by persons and organizations in the investigation and remedying of releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances and to implement the state's solid and hazardous waste management priorities. However, during the 1999-2001 fiscal biennium, funding may not be granted to entities engaged in lobbying activities, and applicants may not be awarded grants if their cumulative grant awards under this section exceed two hundred thousand dollars. No grant may exceed sixty thousand dollars. Grants may be renewed annually. Moneys appropriated for public participation from either account which are not expended at the close of any biennium shall revert to the state toxics control account.

     (6) No moneys deposited into either the state or local toxics control account may be used for solid waste incinerator feasibility studies, construction, maintenance, or operation.

     (7) The department shall adopt rules for grant or loan issuance and performance.

     (8) During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the state toxics control account to the water quality account such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the fund.

[2005 c 488 § 926; 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 933; 2001 c 27 § 2; 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1 § 912; 1999 c 309 § 923. Prior: 1998 c 346 § 905; 1998 c 81 § 2; 1997 c 406 § 5; 1994 c 252 § 5; 1991 sp.s. c 13 § 69; 1989 c 2 § 7 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]

Part headings not law -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 2005 c 488: See notes following RCW 28B.50.360.      Severability -- Effective date -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.      Finding -- 2001 c 27: "The legislature finds that there is an increasing number of derelict vessels that have been abandoned in the waters along the shorelines of the state. These vessels pose hazards to navigation and threaten the environment with the potential release of hazardous materials. There is no current federal program that comprehensively addresses this problem, and the legislature recognizes that the state must assist in providing a solution to this increasing hazard." [2001 c 27 § 1.]      Severability -- Effective date -- 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1: See notes following RCW 41.05.143.      Severability -- Effective date -- 1999 c 309: See notes following RCW 41.06.152.      Construction -- Severability -- Effective date -- 1998 c 346: See notes following RCW 50.24.014.      Local governments -- Increased service -- 1998 c 81: "If this act mandates an increased level of service by local governments, the local government may, under RCW 43.135.060 and chapter 4.92 RCW, submit claims for reimbursement by the legislature. The claims shall be subject to verification by the office of financial management." [1998 c 81 § 3.]      Findings -- Intent -- 1997 c 406: See note following RCW 70.105D.020.      Finding -- Effective date -- 1994 c 252: See notes following RCW 70.119A.020.      Effective dates -- Severability -- 1991 sp.s. c 13: See notes following RCW 18.08.240.