FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6033

                              C 322 L 89

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz and Stratton)

Terminating the powers and duties of the nuclear waste board and the nuclear waste advisory board.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

In response to consideration of the Hanford site as the nation's first repository for high-level nuclear waste, the Legislature created the Nuclear Waste Board in 1983.  Membership of the Nuclear Waste Board consists of the directors of several state agencies or their designees, a citizen chairman, and eight nonvoting legislator members.  Also in 1983, an advisory council was created for the purpose of maximizing public involvement in the nuclear waste program.  The advisory council consists of not less than 15 citizen members.

Legislation which passed Congress in 1987 eliminated Hanford as a candidate for the first high-level waste repository.

Defense materials production at Hanford has resulted in an accumulation of a large volume of stored radioactive waste.  Large scale efforts to restore the site can begin once an agreement is signed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Department of Energy, and the Department of Ecology.  The state will then be in the position of asking Congress to appropriate funds for the cleanup of these wastes.

SUMMARY:

The membership of the advisory council is changed to consist of 19 members, 11 citizen members and eight legislator members.  The council will advise the Department of Ecology on all aspects of the radioactive waste management program, and is directed to hold its meetings at various locations throughout the state.  The advisory council is scheduled to terminate June 30, 1994.

The Nuclear Waste Board is scheduled to terminate June 30, 1990, or the date when the tri-party agreement related to defense waste cleanup is signed by the state, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy, whichever date is earliest.

Obsolete references to the federal nuclear waste repository program and the Nuclear Waste Board are deleted.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   45    2

     House 95  0 (House amended)

     Senate   47    0 (Senate concurred)

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989