In 2015, an interagency agreement (IAA) was entered into with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). The IAA allowed the Health District to inspect well seals under Ecology’s jurisdiction in exchange for a portion of the permit fee amount. For the past two years, the program has run a deficit as it takes more staff time to complete the inspection than we receive in fees from Ecology. 

It may be worth continuing this agreement at a future date, but at this time, staff do not have the resources to complete the contractual obligations, and a different financial agreement should be negotiated in order to achieve full cost recovery with this program. The current IAA expired on June 30, 2021. The Executive Committee, at its meeting on June 25, 2021, approved not pursuing a renewal of the grant. Following that meeting, Ecology was contacted and informed that we would not be renewing this contract in 2021 and the contract was allowed to lapse.  

Consistent with the Division of Responsibilities, the Board of Health has authority over taking action to create, eliminate or modify programs.