HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 5071

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Parks & Ecology (originally sponsored by Senators Kreidler, Williams and Rinehart)

Changing provisions relating to dangerous wastes.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Allen, Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, Pruitt, Schoon, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Unsoeld and Walker.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 16, 1987

BACKGROUND:

The state Hazardous Waste Management Act defines hazardous wastes as nonradioactive substances.  Some hazardous wastes, particularly on the Hanford reservation, are mixed with radioactive substances.  The state's authority to regulate these "mixed wastes" is unclear.  The Department of Ecology is applying to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for authority to regulate mixed wastes.  It may be easier to obtain this authority from EPA if clear authority under state law is granted to Ecology by the legislature.

SUMMARY:

Hazardous wastes include substances composed of both radioactive and nonradioactive substances. References limiting the Hazardous Waste Management Act to the regulation of nonradioactive substances is deleted.

Mixed wastes may be disposed at a site owned by the U.S. Department of Energy or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission if the site has received a permit from the Department of Ecology and the site is operating in compliance with the Hazardous Waste Management Act.

The Department of Ecology is directed to use all available means to enforce state and federal environmental laws related to hazardous wastes at federal facilities.  The Department of Ecology must also prepare an annual written report describing the federal facilities operating in the state and whether they are operating in compliance with federal and state environmental laws.  The report will be submitted to the legislative committees on energy and the environment.

Fiscal Note:      Requested March 18, 1987.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Washington Environmental Council; Department of Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The bill provides the Department of Ecology with the necessary authority to assure that mixed wastes are managed in compliance with state law.  Without this bill the federal government may be able to manage their wastes without any state oversight.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.