Septic Systems
#1458: Septic Systems (2005)
Managing on-site sewage systems in marine areas. An environmental community priority.
Supported by Sierra Club (2 points).
Passed House, died in Senate.
Failing septic systems cause serious water pollution problems. In some areas, like Hood Canal among others, pollution from the failing septic systems threatens the fragile marine ecosystem and the shellfish industry. Historically, there has been very little state oversight or monitoring of on-site septic systems. This bill would have required the state to improve oversight and management of septic systems in specific problem areas, and to develop recovery plans for those areas.
This bill passed the House, but ran into trouble in the Senate. Sen. Tim Sheldon from Mason County vigorously opposed the bill. The environmental community lobbied it right up to the end, and we were close to having enough votes to move it through, but had trouble getting a commitment from anyone to be the 25th and decisive vote. The Senate had already addressed a number of contentious bills and was losing interest in taking up another controversial matter.
Representatives Hunt and Dickerson; Senator Rockefeller.
Senator Tim Sheldon - For outspoken opposition to the bill.
Representative Buck - Offered floor amendments in House that would have gutted the bill; they failed.
