S-4429               _______________________________________________

                           SUBSTITUTE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 133

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senator Williams)

Read first time 2/6/86.

WHEREAS, Under federal law up to one-half of the low-level radioactive waste disposed of nationally over the next seven years is designated for disposal in Washington; and

          WHEREAS, Washington is one of three states with sites under consideration for designation as the national high-level radioactive waste repository; and

          WHEREAS, Despite some attempts to regulate the transportation of radioactive wastes, from 1971 to 1982, nearly one hundred twenty-five reported transportation accidents involving radioactive materials occurred nationally, twelve of which involved the release of radiation; and

          WHEREAS, An accident involving the transportation of radioactive waste could have a devastating effect on the people and environment of this region; and

          WHEREAS, Washington along with other states are developing standards and regulations to assure the safe transport of radioactive materials, including radioactive waste; and

          WHEREAS, Cooperation between the states in the Northwest will reduce the burden on industry and decrease duplicative regulation, allowing a more effective use of resources; and

          WHEREAS, There is unqualified evidence that appropriate accident response procedures and skills by state and local officials need to be updated by professionally trained personnel who are also thoroughly familiar with such procedures as have been developed and promulgated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and

          WHEREAS, There are emergency response training programs available from the federal agencies noted above, many without cost to state and local officials; and

          WHEREAS, There is presently no state coordinator or integrator of state and federal emergency response programs or procedures even though the need for such an individual has been apparent for several months;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That we urge the Governor, along with the Legislature, to initiate discussions with other states toward regional planning for radioactive materials transportation, including development of uniform laws and regulations and development of a regional emergency response plan; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That we urge the Governor to provide this state with a skilled administrator of emergency response programs and procedures and planning for radioactive and other hazardous materials transportation.