Protecting our waters with stronger penalties for pollutors

Strengthening Accountability for Pollution: What Washington’s Environmental Crimes Bill Means for Clean Water

Washington State is considering new legislation that would strengthen enforcement against serious environmental violations — an important step toward protecting clean water, healthy beaches, and coastal ecosystems.

Senate Bill 5360 updates Washington law to create stronger criminal penalties for violations of environmental protections, including water pollution laws. The bill establishes new tiers of offenses for violations of the state’s Water Pollution Control Act, ranging from negligent violations to knowing violations that put people at risk of serious harm. The most severe offenses would be classified as felonies, increasing accountability for individuals and entities that knowingly pollute Washington’s waters.

Under the proposal, pollution that contaminates lakes, rivers, groundwater, and marine waters — or harms public health, aquatic life, or recreational uses — could carry stronger legal consequences when violations are intentional or reckless. The bill also clarifies enforcement authority and allows penalties to apply for each day a violation continues, reinforcing the “polluter pays” principle. 

Why This Matters

For Surfrider Washington, clean water is foundational to protecting our ocean, beaches, and coastal communities. From monitoring water quality through programs like the Blue Water Task Force, to advocating for stronger pollution prevention policies, to supporting EPA clean water program funding at the federal level, Surfrider works to ensure Washington’s waterways remain safe for everything that swims - be it people, or the amazing wildlife we share our waters with.

SB 5360 supports this mission by:

• Strengthening deterrence: Clearer and stronger penalties help discourage illegal pollution that can contaminate beaches and coastal waters.
• Protecting public health: Cleaner waterways mean safer recreation, surfing, and coastal access.
• Supporting ecosystem protection: Strong enforcement helps safeguard marine habitats and wildlife that depend on healthy water quality.
• Closing accountability gaps: The bill aligns state enforcement more closely with the seriousness of environmental harm.

As Washington faces growing pressures from industrial pollution, stormwater impacts, and emerging contaminants, stronger enforcement tools help ensure environmental laws are meaningful and effective.

The Bottom Line

Clean water protections only work when violations have real consequences. By strengthening environmental crime penalties, SB 5360 represents a step toward greater accountability for polluters and healthier waterways across Washington — priorities that align closely with Surfrider Washington’s mission to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches for all.