HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6546

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz, Madsen, Bluechel, Owen, Stratton and Williams)

Specifying restriction on use of low-level radioactive waste surveillance fees.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment. (12)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Armstrong, Barnes, Brooks, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, Meyers, Miller, Sutherland, Unsoeld and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment by Committee on Energy & Utilities. (14)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Brough, Butterfield, Grant, Grimm, Holland, Sayan, H. Sommers, Spanel, Wang and B. Williams.

House Staff:      Dave Knutson (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS

FEBRUARY 27, 1988

BACKGROUND:

The Office of Radiation Control within the Department of Social and Health Services collects a site surveillance fee as an added charge on each cubic foot of low-level radioactive waste disposed in the state.  The surveillance fee may not exceed four percent of the basic fee charged by an operator of a disposal site.

The fee, when established in 1985, was set at a level to completely fund the Radiation Control activities of the agency, except those which are funded by license fees.  Specifically mandated functions in 1985 were surveillance of low-level radioactive waste disposal, radiation public health tasks, and statewide radiation monitoring.  Subsequent to 1985, low-level waste disposal volume has dropped and fee receipts are insufficient for all tasks.

Since certain Radiation Control activities are statewide in scope and not site specific, questions have been raised over the fairness of supporting the entire program by site surveillance fees.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The site surveillance fee collected by Radiation Control may only be used for activities directly related to the management, licensing, or regulation of the disposal of low-level radioactive waste, including inspection of inbound waste and the transporting vehicle at the state's border.  The bill does not take effect if the supplemental budget does not contain an appropriation of at least $500,000 for the Radiation Control Office to apply to the underfunded tasks mandated in 1985.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO SUBSTITUTE:  The bill does not take effect unless the appropriation for the Radiation Control Office is in the supplemental budget.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS/APPROPRIATIONS:  None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Energy & Utilities) Thelma Struck and Terry Strong, Department of Social and Health Services (Neither pro nor con; provided information); Barry Bede, U.S. Ecology Company.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Energy & Utilities) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Energy & Utilities) This bill would provide funding stability for continued, effective surveillance of low-level radioactive waste disposal.  The low-level waste disposal operation provides large sums to the state general fund through B&O taxes and out-of-region surcharges that could be used for the other functions.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Energy & Utilities) None Presented.

(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.