S-1027               _______________________________________________

 

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 3468

                        _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

 

By Senators Williams, Bailey, Saling, Talmadge, Bauer and Rasmussen

 

 

Read first time 1/31/85 and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.

 

 


AN ACT Relating to radioactive waste disposal; amending RCW 43.200.015; adding a new section to chapter 43.200 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

        Sec. 1.  Section 1, chapter 161, Laws of 1984 and RCW 43.200.015 are each amended to read as follows:

          As used in this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

          (1) "Board" means the nuclear waste board established in RCW 43.200.040.

          (2) "Federal department of energy" means the federal department of energy or any successor agency assigned responsibility for the long-term disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

          (3) "Hanford site" means the site identified by the United States department of energy as a potentially acceptable site for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste pursuant to the nuclear waste policy act of 1982.

          (4) "High-level radioactive waste" means "high-level radioactive waste" as the term is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101 (P.L. 97-425).

          (((4))) (5) "Department" means the department of ecology.

          (6) "Spent nuclear fuel" means spent nuclear fuel as the term is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.200 RCW to read as follows:

          The board shall monitor and evaluate the research performed by the United States department of energy which is undertaken for the purpose of determining the suitability of the Hanford site for the location of a disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.  In addition, the board shall conduct its own independent testing and evaluation activities.  On a quarterly basis, the board shall report to the Washington state legislature on the results of research conducted under this section.

 

          NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3.     This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.