(360) 786-7662|Maralyn.Chase@leg.wa.gov

Monthly Archives: October 2015

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    Sewer-Water Association names Chase its Outstanding Legislator of 2015

Sewer-Water Association names Chase its Outstanding Legislator of 2015

October 14th, 2015|

The Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts has recognized Sen. Maralyn Chase for her Outstanding Support of Special Purpose Sewer & Water Districts.

 Chase was the prime sponsor of SB 5048, which provides for a vote of the ratepayers in the event of an assumption of a water-sewer district by a city. Until the passage of this law, these special purpose districts were the only form of local government that was subject to a hostile takeover without the consent of the districts’ duly elected governing bodies or the citizens affected by the takeover. This short video illustrates the problem Chase’s legislation addressed.

Through Chase’s leadership, the bill passed the Senate 28-21 and passed the House of Representatives 96-1. Chase was also recognized for her continued support of infrastructure funding through the Public Works Assistance Account, which provides low cost loans for water-sewer districts, cities, and counties. This model program has been the subject of numerous budget raids over the past several sessions.

A plaque recognizing was presented to her in late September at the Annual Conference in Wenatchee.

Founded in 1995, the Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts represents the state’s special purpose sewer and water districts. These districts provide services to 25 percent of the citizens of Washington. There are 176 special purpose sewer and water districts in the state.

One of the Association’s roles is to provide education and training to elected district commissioners and continuing education classes for general managers and certified operators of water and wastewater treatment plants. It also fosters increased communication between members and encourages standardization of water and sewer methods and services bringing benefits to ratepayers. The Association represents the interests of special purpose districts in the Washington legislature and with state and local regulatory agencies.

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    Chase receives Rachel Carson award for anti-pesticide efforts

Chase receives Rachel Carson award for anti-pesticide efforts

October 6th, 2015|

Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline, was bestowed the Rachel Carson Award on Saturday by the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) at the group’s Healthy Harvest Celebration at the Eugene Vet’s Club in Oregon.

“This is an honor and a reaffirmation of my obligation and responsibility to protect our community and our environment against the hazards of pesticides,” Chase said. “This is about the air we breathe, the water we drink and the innumerable living things that make up, and power, the cycle of life on which we all rely.”

The Rachel Carson Award, named after the eponymous marine biologist whose landmark book Silent Spring dramatically raised global awareness of environmental health, is given to community members who have worked to significantly reduce pesticide use in their community.

“Simply to have my name spoken in the same sentence as Rachel Carson’s is no small honor,” Chase said. “I’m no Rachel Carson, by any means, but I can do my best to emulate her priorities. Every effort helps, and not just by me but by all of us who want to promote a healthy and thriving environment for ourselves and our descendants.”

Chase’s Senate efforts “set a new standard for sustainable public policy and common-sense community protection and representation,” NCAP officials said in recognizing her with the award. “Your efforts to move beyond a government-as-usual model and to address difficult challenges has enhanced our Northwest region and advanced NCAP’s mission to protect community and environmental health and inspire the use of ecologically sound solutions to reduce the use of pesticides.

“In your life and in your service, you exemplify the environmental values that Rachel Carson held so dear and that we work for here at NCAP.”

Chase’s most recent such efforts include her sponsorship of Senate Bill 6002, which would have required the state to develop a model program for monitoring for pests that emphasizes nonchemical measures while integrating physical mechanical, biological and, if necessary, chemical methods to achieve long-term control. Though the bill did not pass during the 2015 legislative session, Chase plans to reintroduce it when the 2016 session begins in January.