Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-435 - Emergency episode plan
Section 173-435-050 - Action procedures
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Whenever applicable criteria are met, the director may declare and terminate the forecast, alert, and warning stages of an episode. This declaration shall constitute an order for action in accordance with applicable SERPs.
(2) No open fires shall be ignited during any stage of an episode. Any person responsible for an open fire already ignited shall extinguish that fire when informed that an episode has been declared. Open fires conducted under the auspices of the department of natural resources for the purpose of burning forest slash pursuant to RCW 70.94.660 through 70.94.700 are to be extinguished by withholding new fuel and allowing the fire to burn down.
(3) Whenever applicable criteria are met, the governor may declare and terminate the emergency stage of an episode. This declaration shall constitute an order for action in accordance with applicable SERPs.
(4) Adverse air quality need not be region-wide for any episode stage to be declared. Action procedures may be taken for any area affected or likely to be affected by episode conditions. The declaration of any episode stage shall specify the area to which it applies.
(5) The broadest publicity practicable shall be given to the declaration of any episode stage. Such declaration shall, as soon as possible, be directly communicated to all persons responsible for the carrying out of SERPs within the affected area.
(6) Regardless of whether any episode stages have previously been declared, whenever the governor finds that emissions are causing imminent danger to public health or safety, the governor may declare an air pollution emergency and order the persons responsible for the operation of sources causing the danger, to reduce or discontinue emissions consistent with good operating practice, safe operating procedures, and SERPs, if any.
(7) Whenever an episode stage is declared on the basis of contaminant levels of carbon monoxide, oxidant, or nitrogen dioxide, the director shall take such action as may be required to reduce emissions from motor vehicles. These actions may include, but are not limited to, the rerouting or detouring of traffic. Actions to be taken by cities and businesses will be established and implemented according to plans developed by them and approved by the department. These plans must meet criteria for emission reduction established by the department.
Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.94 and 43.21A RCW. 89-02-055 (Order 88-39), § 173-435-050, filed 1/3/89; Order DE 77-21, § 173-435-050, filed 10/31/77.
