The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) was created in February 1970 after the Washington State Senate voted in favor of Senate Bill 1 and Governor Daniel Evans signed the bill into law. The bill authorized the consolidation of four existing state agencies to create the Department of Ecology, the first unified environmental protection agency in the nation, ahead of even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Washington State Department of Ecology
(DOE)
Structural Relationships
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Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE)
Information Set
- No information available at this time
Observations
UW ADAI - Webinar - Addressing the Risks of High THC Cannabis - The Public Health and Legislative Saga (April 20, 2023) - Summary
Researchers ran through various efforts to regulate cannabis concentrates which had been supported by some stakeholders before taking questions on how to influence legislators and the public.
WSLCB - Board Caucus (April 25, 2023) - Summary
An update on the 2023 legislative session hinted at a potential special session to revise a Blake bill on drug use and treatment, then staff discussed input on the medical cannabis system.
WSLCB - Board Caucus (April 18, 2023) - Summary
Board members learned more about environmental pesticide investigations and test results before hearing a proposal for a dedicated research unit at the agency and legislative updates.
WSLCB - Executive Management Team (April 12, 2023) - Summary
Agency leadership reported on their response to legacy environmental pesticides, CANNRA engagement, rule and research plans, as well as the status of hiring a new director.
WSLCB - Board Meeting (April 12, 2023) - Environmental Pesticide Action
Pausing emergency rulemaking which would lower action levels for some pesticides didn’t preclude public comments critical of the approach taken by agency staff to the overall situation.
WSLCB - Board Caucus (April 11, 2023) - Summary
The board heard that details on emergency rules around potential soil contamination could wait until the following day’s board meeting, and staff also gave legislative and rulemaking updates.
WA House - Session (April 7, 2023) - SB 5367 - Second and Third Reading
The full House incorporated changes to THC legislation designed in committee and passed the measure, but only after formally ‘reconsidering’ their vote.
WA Governor - Bill Action (March 31, 2022) - SB 5693
The Governor shared his thoughts on the supplemental budget before signing it; the measure created two hemp task forces, a community reinvestment fund, and other cannabis-centric changes.
WA Governor - Bill Action (March 24, 2022) - SB 5796
The Governor signed a bill which changed non-binding cannabis revenue appropriations and mandated a study of those expenditures by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.
WA Governor - Bill Action (March 24, 2022) - HB 1859
The governor signed the only non-controversial cannabis bill of the 2022 session into law, setting regulators up to form an interagency coordination team responsible for lab standards.