S-481                 _______________________________________________

                                           SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 109

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Goltz, Williams and Saling

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

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The uncontrolled release of radioactive materials into the environment can have detrimental effects upon the health and safety of the citizens of the State of Washington; and

          WHEREAS, On January 25, 1984, the Purex plant was shut down to investigate a release of radioactive material; and

          WHEREAS, The monitoring system which recorded the abnormal release was found to be in need of adjustment; and

          WHEREAS, There was a delay in informing the public of the January 1984 incident at the Purex plant; and

          WHEREAS, The public is dependent upon the federal government for accurate and timely environmental measurements of emissions released from defense-related operations;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Department of Energy provide complete and accurate disclosure to the public of all incidents involving actual and potential releases of radioactive materials at the Purex plant on the Hanford reservation; and

          BE IT RESOLVED, That the United States Department of Energy shut down operations at the Purex plant when any abnormal release is indicated or when monitoring devices malfunction and that the plant shall remain nonoperational until the incident is remedied; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the secretary of the United States Department of Energy, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.