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County contemplating new health regulations

posted 04/05/01
A draft of proposed rules and regulations by the county Board of Health is available for review. A public hearing will be scheduled by the Health Dept before the rules are adopted by the BOCC. The new rules cover solid waste and biosolids handling and facilities. Junk cars and illegal dumping also come under the new rules:

Junk Vehicles

A) The Health Department will only respond to complaints regarding junk vehicles that are either visible from public property and/or right-of-ways or pose a health hazard. Use of old machinery, farm implements, or other items as landscape ornaments will not be subject to these standards.

B) Junk vehicles shall be removed to a facility licensed to accept junk vehicles, except properties up to 5 (five) acres in size may have up to 2 (two) junk vehicles, provided they are not visible, screened from public property or right-of ways and do not pose a health hazard, and properties over 5 (five) acres may have up to 5 (five) junk vehicles, provided they are not visible, screened from public property or right-of ways and do not pose a health hazard.

C) Storing junk vehicles and/or parts thereof from public view shall take place by Health Department approved fencing or buffering that reasonably removes objects from being visible from public property or right-of-ways.

Junk vehicles are defined as:

a vehicle certified under RCW 46.55.230 as meeting at least three of the following requirements:

A) Is three years old or older;

B) Is extensively damaged, such damage including but not limited to any of the following: A broken window or windshield, or missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission;

C) Is apparently inoperable;

D) Has an approximate fair market value equal only to the approximate value of the scrap in it.

Illegal Dumping

A) Whenever solid wastes dumped in violation of RCW 70.95.240 contain three or more items bearing the name of one individual, there shall be an irrefutable presumption that the individual whose name appears on such items committed the unlawful act of dumping and is responsible for clean-up of the discarded materials.

B) Illegal dumpers, and property owners when illegal dumpers cannot be identified, will be responsible for waste clean-up and lawful disposal in accordance with "San Juan County Environmental Health Enforcement Policy."

The complete draft of the proposed regulations are on the county Web site