RCW 70A.15.4530
Odors or fugitive dust caused by agricultural activities consistent with good agricultural practices exempt from chapter.
(1) Odors or fugitive dust caused by agricultural activity consistent with good agricultural practices on agricultural land are exempt from the requirements of this chapter unless they have a substantial adverse effect on public health. In determining whether agricultural activity is consistent with good agricultural practices, the department of ecology or board of any authority shall consult with a recognized third-party expert in the activity prior to issuing any notice of violation.
(2) Any notice of violation issued under this chapter pertaining to odors or fugitive dust caused by agricultural activity shall include a detailed statement with evidence as to why the activity is inconsistent with good agricultural practices, or a detailed statement with evidence that the odors or fugitive dust have substantial adverse effect on public health.
(3) In any appeal to the pollution control hearings board or any judicial appeal, the agency issuing a final order pertaining to odors or fugitive dust caused by agricultural activity shall prove the activity is inconsistent with good agricultural practices or that the odors or fugitive dust have a substantial adverse impact on public health.
(4) If a person engaged in agricultural activity on a contiguous piece of agricultural land sells or has sold a portion of that land for residential purposes, the exemption of this section shall not apply.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) "Agricultural activity" means the growing, raising, or production of horticultural or viticultural crops, berries, poultry, livestock, shellfish, grain, mint, hay, and dairy products. "Agricultural activity" also includes the growing, raising, or production of cattle at cattle feedlots.
(b) "Good agricultural practices" means economically feasible practices which are customary among or appropriate to farms and ranches of a similar nature in the local area and for cattle feedlots means implementing best management practices pursuant to a fugitive dust control plan that conforms to the fugitive dust control guidelines for beef cattle feedlots, best management practices, and plan development and approval procedures that were approved by the department of ecology in December 1995 or in updates to those guidelines that are mutually agreed to by the department of ecology and by the Washington cattle feeders association or a successor organization on behalf of cattle feedlots.
(c) "Agricultural land" means at least five acres of land devoted primarily to the commercial production of livestock, agricultural commodities, or cultured aquatic products.
(d) "Fugitive dust" means a particulate emission made airborne by human activity, forces of wind, or both, and which do not pass through a stack, chimney, vent, or other functionally equivalent opening.
(6) The exemption for fugitive dust provided in subsection (1) of this section does not apply to facilities subject to RCW 70A.15.2200 as specified in WAC 173-400-100 as of July 24, 2005, 70A.15.2210, or 70A.15.2260. The exemption for fugitive dust provided in subsection (1) of this section applies to cattle feedlots with operational facilities which have an inventory of one thousand or more cattle in operation between June 1st and October 1st, where vegetation forage growth is not sustained over the majority of the lot during the normal growing season; except that the cattle feedlots must comply with applicable requirements included in the approved state implementation plan for air quality as of July 23, 2017; and except if an area in which a cattle feedlot is located is at any time in the future designated nonattainment for a national ambient air quality standard for particulate matter, additional control measures may be required for cattle feedlots as part of a state implementation plan's control strategy for that area and as necessary to ensure the area returns to attainment.
[ 2020 c 20 § 1132; 2017 c 217 § 1; 2005 c 511 § 4; 1981 c 297 § 30. Formerly RCW 70.94.640.]
NOTES:
Legislative finding, intent—1981 c 297: "The legislature finds that agricultural land is essential to providing citizens with food and fiber and to insuring aesthetic values through the preservation of open spaces in our state. The legislature further finds that government regulations can cause agricultural land to be converted to nonagricultural uses. The legislature intends that agricultural activity consistent with good practices be protected from government over-regulation." [ 1981 c 297 § 29.]
Reviser's note: The above legislative finding and intent section apparently applies to sections 30 and 31 of chapter 297, Laws of 1981, which sections have been codified pursuant to legislative direction as RCW 70.94.640 and 90.48.450, respectively.
Severability—1981 c 297: See note following RCW 15.36.201.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 70A - Environmental Health and Safety
Chapter 70A.15 - Washington Clean Air Act.
70A.15.1005 - Declaration of public policies and purpose.
70A.15.1010 - Air pollution control account—Air operating permit account.
70A.15.1040 - Environmental excellence program agreements—Effect on chapter.
70A.15.1050 - Technical assistance program for regulated community.
70A.15.1060 - Transportation activities—"Conformity" determination requirements.
70A.15.1070 - Causing or permitting air pollution unlawful—Exception.
70A.15.1080 - Exception—Burning wood at historic structure.
70A.15.1090 - Policy to cooperate with federal government.
70A.15.1100 - Issuance of enforceable order—Overburdened communities.
70A.15.1510 - Air pollution control authority may be activated by counties, when.
70A.15.1520 - Multicounty authority may be formed by contiguous counties—Name.
70A.15.1550 - Resolutions activating authorities—Contents—Filings—Effective date of operation.
70A.15.1560 - Powers and duties of authorities.
70A.15.1570 - Cost-reimbursement agreements.
70A.15.1580 - Excess tax levy authorized—Election, procedure, expense.
70A.15.1590 - Air pollution control authority—Fiscal year—Adoption of budget—Contents.
70A.15.1610 - Designation of authority treasurer and auditor—Duties.
70A.15.1620 - Assessed valuation of taxable property, certification by county assessors.
70A.15.1630 - Authorization to borrow money.
70A.15.1640 - Special air pollution studies—Contracts for conduct of.
70A.15.2000 - Air pollution control authority—Board of directors—Composition—Term.
70A.15.2010 - City selection committees.
70A.15.2040 - Air pollution control authority—Powers and duties of activated authority.
70A.15.2050 - Subpoena powers—Witnesses, expenses and mileage—Rules and regulations.
70A.15.2230 - RACT requirements.
70A.15.2240 - Control of emissions—Bubble concept—Schedules of compliance.
70A.15.2250 - Preemption of uniform building and fire codes.
70A.15.2260 - Operating permits for air contaminant sources—Generally—Fees, report to legislature.
70A.15.2270 - Annual fees from operating permit program source to cover cost of program.
70A.15.2280 - Source categories not required to have a permit—Recommendations.
70A.15.2290 - Gasoline vapor recovery devices—Limitation on requiring.
70A.15.2300 - Air pollution control authority control officer.
70A.15.2310 - Variances—Application for—Considerations—Limitations—Renewals—Review.
70A.15.2510 - Confidentiality of records and information.
70A.15.2520 - Enforcement actions by air authority—Notice to violators.
70A.15.2530 - Order final unless appealed to pollution control hearings board.
70A.15.2540 - Rules of authority supersede local rules, regulations, etc.—Exceptions.
70A.15.2560 - Air pollution control advisory council.
70A.15.2570 - Dissolution of authority—Deactivation of authority.
70A.15.2580 - Withdrawal from multicounty authority.
70A.15.3000 - Powers and duties of department.
70A.15.3010 - Enforcement actions by department—Notice to violators.
70A.15.3020 - Hazardous substance remedial actions—Procedural requirements not applicable.
70A.15.3050 - Emission control requirements.
70A.15.3060 - State financial aid—Application for—Requirements.
70A.15.3090 - Order activating authority—Filing—Hearing—Amendment of order.
70A.15.3100 - Air pollution control authority—Review by department of program.
70A.15.3110 - Air pollution control authority—Assumption of control by department.
70A.15.3120 - State departments and agencies to cooperate with department and authorities.
70A.15.3140 - Restraining orders—Injunctions.
70A.15.3150 - Penalties (as amended by 2021 c 315).
70A.15.3160 - Civil penalties—Excusable excess emissions.
70A.15.3170 - Additional means for enforcement of chapter.
70A.15.3500 - Woodstoves—Policy.
70A.15.3510 - Woodstoves—Definitions.
70A.15.3520 - Residential and commercial construction—Burning and heating device standards.
70A.15.3530 - Solid fuel burning devices—Emission performance standards.
70A.15.3540 - Sale of unapproved woodstoves—Prohibited.
70A.15.3550 - Sale of unapproved woodstoves—Penalty.
70A.15.3560 - Sale of unapproved woodstoves—Application of law to advertising media.
70A.15.3590 - Liability of condominium owners' association or resident association.
70A.15.3600 - Limitations on use of solid fuel burning devices.
70A.15.3610 - Woodstove education program.
70A.15.3630 - Woodsmoke emissions—Findings.
70A.15.4000 - Transportation demand management—Findings.
70A.15.4010 - Transportation demand management—Definitions.
70A.15.4020 - Transportation demand management—Requirements for counties and cities.
70A.15.4030 - Transportation demand management—Growth and transportation efficiency centers.
70A.15.4040 - Transportation demand management—Requirements for employers.
70A.15.4050 - Transportation demand management—Jurisdictions' review and penalties.
70A.15.4060 - Transportation demand management—Commute trip reduction board.
70A.15.4070 - Transportation demand management—Technical assistance.
70A.15.4080 - Transportation demand management—Use of funds.
70A.15.4090 - Transportation demand management—Intent—State leadership.
70A.15.4110 - Transportation demand management—Collective bargaining powers unaffected.
70A.15.4500 - Reports of authorities to department of ecology—Contents.
70A.15.4510 - Burning used oil fuel in land-based facilities.
70A.15.4520 - Metals mining and milling operations permits—Inspections by department of ecology.
70A.15.5000 - Definition of "outdoor burning."
70A.15.5010 - Outdoor burning—Fires prohibited—Exceptions.
70A.15.5030 - Outdoor burning—Permits issued by political subdivisions.
70A.15.5040 - Limited outdoor burning—Establishment of program.
70A.15.5050 - Limited outdoor burning—Construction.
70A.15.5070 - Limited outdoor burning—Program—Exceptions.
70A.15.5100 - Delegation of permit issuance and enforcement to political subdivisions.
70A.15.5130 - Silvicultural forest burning—Reduce statewide emissions—Exemption—Monitoring program.
70A.15.5160 - Adoption of rules.
70A.15.5170 - Burning permits for regeneration of rare and endangered plants.
70A.15.5190 - Outdoor burning allowed for managing storm or flood-related debris.
70A.15.5200 - Fires necessary for Indian ceremonies or smoke signals.
70A.15.5210 - Permit to set fires for weed abatement.
70A.15.5220 - Disposal of tumbleweeds.
70A.15.6000 - Air pollution episodes—Legislative finding—Declaration of policy.
70A.15.6020 - Air pollution episodes—Declaration of air pollution emergency by governor.
70A.15.6040 - Air pollution episodes—Orders to be effective immediately.
70A.15.6050 - Plans approved pursuant to federal clean air act—Enforcement authority.
70A.15.6200 - Legislative declaration—Intent.
70A.15.6220 - Monitoring by department of ecology.
70A.15.6230 - Emission credits banking program—Amount of credit.
70A.15.6240 - Department of ecology may accept delegation of programs.
70A.15.6260 - Establishment of critical deposition and acidification levels—Considerations.
70A.15.6270 - Carbon dioxide mitigation—Fees.
70A.15.6450 - Boiler or process heaters—Assessment and reporting requirements.
70A.15.9001 - Construction—1967 c 238.
70A.15.9002 - Construction, repeal of RCW 70.94.061 through 70.94.066—Saving.