Proposals for the 2027 legislative session

ZEVergreen

Transportation is Washington’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Decarbonizing this sector is critical to meeting our climate targets, as well as improving air quality. Given the uncertainty caused by federal actions to end federal and state vehicle emission standards, Washington is positioned to further incentivize zero-emissions vehicle adoption. This proposal would amend Chapter 70A.30 RCW and related statutes to advance zero-emissions vehicle adoption, thereby furthering the state’s progress on transportation decarbonization, transportation affordability, and improving air quality.

For questions or more information about this proposal, please contact:

Sydney Hart
Senior Legislative Planner
Climate Pollution Reduction Program
sydney.hart@ecy.wa.gov
(564) 250-7709

Safer products for Washington

Washington’s Safer Products for Washington program authorizes us to adopt rules restricting dangerous chemicals in consumer products when safer alternatives are available. We are considering a proposal that would strengthen this program. Our proposal considers expanding our authority under Chapter 70A.350 RCW to order manufacturers to provide data about ingredients in their products and potential safer alternatives, which will help inform decisions about product restrictions. The proposal also includes provisions to create a fast track to quickly restrict certain chemicals in consumer products when there is an urgent need for restrictions, and to create a pathway, under certain criteria, for restricting certain chemical-product combinations even when safer alternatives are not proven to be feasible or available.

For questions or more information about this proposal, please contact:

Kimberly Goetz
Senior Legislative Planner
Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program
kimberly.goetz@ecy.wa.gov
360-819-7080

Hazardous waste fees

To make sure that hazardous waste is safely managed, we charge fees to Washington businesses that generate dangerous waste. These fees have not been meaningfully updated since 1990. The fees are inequitably distributed amongst businesses, don’t incentivize waste reduction, and are insufficient to adequately fund our pollution prevention work. We are proposing a substantial revision to how hazardous waste fees are assessed. The proposal would update Chapter 70A.218 RCW to remove the fee structure from statute and direct us to develop a new, more equitable fee system through rulemaking with interested parties.

For questions or more information about this proposal, please contact:

Kimberly Goetz
Senior Legislative Planner
Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program
kimberly.goetz@ecy.wa.gov
360-819-7080

Well construction and licensing

Our Water Resources Program is proposing an update to Chapter 18.104 RCW related to well construction and well driller licensing. This proposal will make process improvements for well driller licensing renewals, well tagging and reporting requirements, and Notice of Intent forms which are submitted to us at least 72 hours before drilling. The proposal will also update the fees we levy for well construction for the first time since 2005 to recover program implementation costs, thereby ensuring a high level of customer service.

For questions or more information about this proposal, please contact:

Ria Berns
Program Manager
Water Resources Program
ria.berns@ecy.wa.gov
425-495-3917