HB 1194, sponsored by Rep. Beth Doglio (D–Olympia), proposes to provide direction for the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to produce Chemical Action Plans. The enhanced process would direct Ecology to develop approaches to reduce the release of high priority toxic chemicals into the environment.

The Chemical Action Plan process is a holistic strategy, identifying the most successful and cost-effective approaches to pollutant reduction – including, ultimately, their potential prohibition from consumer products in the state. This is a beneficial action for cities because absent these more holistic approaches, the only place to regulate many of these chemicals is at the municipal treatment plant level. That leaves city residents paying to address toxic pollution that they are not creating – even if technology was available for treatment, which it is not.

HB 1194 directs Ecology to produce five Chemical Action Plans for priority chemicals every five years. AWC will be supporting this proposal.

Dates to remember

HB 1194 is scheduled in the House Environment & Energy Committee at 8 am on Thursday, January 24.