Drafter
Clerk 02/16/2011
Title
A MOTION urging the Washington state Legislature to enact the 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act to fund and construct projects to prevent and clean up stormwater pollution in King County and statewide.
Body
WHEREAS, contaminated stormwater runoff is a major water pollution problem in the state fouling aquifers, streams, rivers, lakes and Puget Sound, and
WHEREAS, King County and other local governments are required by the federal Clean Water Act and the 1987 Water Quality Act to prevent, control and provide treatment for stormwater to the extent practicable within our jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, one of the top priorities of the Puget Sound partnership is reducing and mitigating the impacts of stormwater pollution to promote recovery and clean up of Puget Sound, and
WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes that the burden of stormwater pollution is a function of both increased volumes of stormwater runoff due to the expansion of impervious surfaces and the toxic substances that pollute the runoff, and
WHEREAS, addressing stormwater pollution is a challenging task because the sources of pollution are widespread and diffuse and it is difficult for local governments to regulate the toxic substances that contaminate stormwater runoff and result in nonpoint source pollution, and
WHEREAS, local governments and residents statewide continue to struggle with the impacts of the economic recession, high unemployment, and the need to stimulate the economy and create jobs, and
WHEREAS, activities that address stormwater contamination, including building and retrofitting urban, suburban, and rural infrastructure would generate job growth especially in the construction sector and related trades, and
WHEREAS, the 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act which is Senate Bill 5604 and House Bill 1735, as originally introduced would address these issues by creating a funding source for state and local projects or activities that mitigate or prevent contamination f...

Click here for full text