Washington State Department of Ecology
The Washington Department of Ecology, or simply, Ecology, is an environmental regulatory agency for the State of Washington. The department administers laws and regulations pertaining to the areas of water quality, water rights and water resources, shoreline management, toxics clean-up, nuclear waste, hazardous waste and air quality. It also conducts monitoring and scientific assessments.
Duties
The agency has an operating budget of approximately $388 million, a capital budget of approximately $395 million and close to 1500 employees[1] The Department's authorizing statute is RCW 43.21A[2]. It is responsible for administering the Shoreline Management Act (RCW 90.58), the Water Code (RCW 90.03), the state Water Pollution Control Act (RCW 90.48) and the Model Toxics Control Act.
Appeals of Ecology's decisions are made to the Environmental Hearings office, which includes the Pollution Control Hearings Board and the Shoreline Hearings Board, as well as several boards that address appeals of decisions by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.
Location
Ecology has its headquarters office in Lacey, Washington, near Olympia and abutting the campus of St. Martin's University. It has four region offices located in Lacey (Southwest Region), Yakima (Central Region), Bellevue (Northwest Region) and Spokane (Eastern Region).
In addition, it has smaller field offices in Bellingham, Twisp, Walla Walla and Vancouver, Washington.
Leadership
The Department Director is appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Recently, Director Jay Manning, was appointed as Governor Christine Gregoire's Chief of Staff. A search for a new directory is underway.
History
The Department of Ecology was created in 1971.
References
- ^ Department of Ecology Budget and Program Overview 2005-2007
- ^ RCW 43.21A: Department of Ecology Washington State Legislature.