OLYMPIA, Wash.–An environmental bill that would overhaul several state laws was passed in the Senate on Tuesday, but Senator Matt Boehnke (R-Kennewick) said it was passed too soon.
Senate Bill 5360, by Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), would align the Washington’s criminal penalties for Clean Air Act, Hazardous Waste Management Act and Water Pollution Control Act violations closer to federal penalties.
Trudeau said it is important to crack down on criminal pollution, especially with an uncertainty on whether the EPA will enforce federal clean air and water laws.
“Massive corporations poison our air and water and get away with paying a fine that barely disrupts business as usual,” Trudeau said. “We need real accountability when criminal pollution occurs, and it is time to stop leaving messes to be cleaned up by future generations.”
But, Boehnke said SB 5360 needs more balance and further discussion before going into law.
While Boehnke supports the bill holding local governments to a higher standard, he is worried about a potential economic harm to local communities.
“Sometimes a bill is brought to the floor of the Senate before it’s ready, and frankly, this is an example of one that needed more work in committee,” Boehnke said. It’s more about crimes and penalties than the ‘environment,’ so the bill really should have gone before the Senate Law and Justice Committee instead of or in addition to (the Environment, Energy and Technology committee).”