Washington State E2SHB2158

According to a March 20, 2019 article in the Seattle Time, Microsoft and UW leaders  wanted to establish a dedicated workforce education investment fund that will create the learning opportunities that our state’s families need and deserve. The new fund would do this in three ways.

1. Expand access for all deserving students with more funding for financial aid like the state need grant, guaranteeing this grant is available to all who are eligible. And let’s make it usable for the broader range of 21st century learning opportunities that have become important.
2. Expand the state’s learning opportunities in all areas of postsecondary education. Many of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce will benefit by pursuing career pathways that take them through community and technical colleges or apprenticeships, with counseling support to provide students from all backgrounds the help they need to complete their education and seek a new job.
3. Expand capacity at our public community and technical colleges and our four-year colleges and universities so deserving students can obtain the credentials our employers are requiring.

The legislative took this proposal and ran with it.  A brief Summary of the Engrossed 2nd Substitute Bill which passed both the House and the Senate on Sunday April 28th:

• Establishes a Legislative Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board.
• Establishes the Washington College Grant Program, the Washington Student Loan Program, and a career connected learning cross-agency work group and grant program.
• Makes changes to the Working Connections Child Care Program and the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship. Imposes a 20 percent business and occupation (B&O) surcharge on the income from service and other activities of select businesses.
• Imposes a 33.33 percent B&O surcharge on the income from service and other activities of advanced computing businesses with revenue of more than $25 billion but less than $100 billion.
• Imposes a 66.66 percent B&O surcharge on the income from service and other activities of advanced computing businesses with revenue of more than $100 billion. Establishes a Workforce Education Investment Account.
• Makes biennial operating budget appropriations for the 2019-21 biennial.

See the summary here for more information on each of these aspects of the new legislation heading to the Governor Monday.

The Department of Ecology adopted amendments to Chapter 173-303 WAC Dangerous Waste Regulations on January 28, 2019.  The amendments become effective 90 days after adoption on April 28, 2019.   These regulations set standards for the safe management of dangerous wastes. Ecology amended specific sections of the dangerous waste regulations to incorporate new federal hazardous waste rules, including but not limited to:

1)     Conditional Exclusions for Solvent-Contaminated Wipes
2)     Revisions to the Definition of Solid Waste
3)     Revisions to the Export Provisions of the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Rule.
4)     Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule
5)     Hazardous Waste Export-Import Revisions
6)     Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Rule

Amendments also include several state-initiated technical and editorial corrections and clarifications. Substantive changes include, but are not limited to:

• Changes to the PCB waste exclusion to reduce duplicative regulation of state-only PCB wastes also regulated under the Toxic Substance Control Act 40 CFR Part 760.
• Above-ground signage requirements for underground dangerous waste tanks to increase safety awareness.

A summary of the amendments is available here.  Contact Spring Environmental for additional guidance on implementing the new rules.

It’s time to prepare, certify and post your OSHA 300A Annual Summary of workplace injuries and illnesses in your workplace. This is required for all U.S. employers, except those with ten or fewer employees or those whose NAICS code is in the set of low-hazard industries exempt from OSHA’s injury and illness recordkeeping requirements.

In addition, by March 2, 2019, establishments with 250 or more employees that are currently required to keep OSHA injury and illness records, and establishments with 20-249 employees that are classified in certain industries with historically high rates of occupational injuries and illnesses. If employers in State Plan states (e.g. Washington) have questions about their obligation to submit injury and illness information, please contact your State Plan office.

Washington has seen a dramatic shift in oil transportation recently, both in the types of oil and in the locations where large quantities of oil are transported. These changes affect the risks associated with oil transportation. Many communities don’t have response resources for spills of oil or hazardous materials. To help solve this problem, the Washington State Department of Ecology provides equipment and training grants to emergency responders. These grants help local communities effectively prepare for and respond to spills.

Funding is available for the following entities:

• Washington counties, cities, and municipalities
• Other state recognized local governments
  • Ports
  • Public utility districts
  • Other special purpose districts (e.g., Clean Air Agencies, Fire Protection)
• Federally recognized tribal governments
• Washington state agencies

To be considered, the community the agency responds to must have a substantial threat of an oil spill or hazardous materials incident occurring in their jurisdiction. The grant is primarily intended to assist emergency responders in purchasing equipment they would not otherwise be able to purchase.

Grant applications will be accepted January 2, 2019 – March 6, 2019. See Ecology’s grant website for further information.

Decontamination is a vital part in any emergency response effort.  You never know what you may have come in contact with that can affect not only your health, but the health of those around you.  For decontamination to be effective, preparedness is the key.  It is important that you maintain open communications on the hazards that you face in your work or hazard environment.  You should also establish operational and emergency procedures to be prepared for an incident response.  Personnel protective equipment selection criteria should be put into place as well to ensure the safety and health of the responders.  Some elements to consider are the levels of protective equipment that may be required, whether it’s disposable or re-usable, how to layer to avoid cross-contamination during doffing procedures, whether physical, chemical or combination decontamination will be used, and how to collect and dispose of contaminated items.  Overall, communication, training, practice drills and periodic program reviews will provide feedback to ensure that your decontamination plan is effective, up-to-date, and ready for implementation should an event occur.

For more information on decontamination, review chapter 10 of DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 85-115 @ https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/85-115/pdfs/85-115-d.pdf?id=10.26616/NIOSHPUB85115

Restrictions on outdoor burning and the use of uncertified wood burning stoves and fireplaces begins at 10 a.m., Sunday, November 18, 2018. The ban will remain in place until further notice.

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency is issuing the “Stage 1 Burn Ban” because concentrations of air pollutants are expected to increase putting residents at risk. Under a Stage 1 “yellow” burn ban: 

• The use of uncertified wood stoves, fireplaces, inserts and other uncertified wood-burning devices is prohibited in the Smoke Control Zone, unless they are a home’s only adequate source of heat.*
• EPA-certified wood stoves, pellet stoves and other certified wood-burning devices are allowed.
• All outdoor burning is banned throughout Spokane County.

* If you don’t have an adequate source of heat, contact Spokane Clean Air for an exemption. Click here for details.