HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2779

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                     Energy & Utilities

               Capital Facilities & Financing

Title:  An act relating to entry of radioactive waste into the state.

Brief Description:  Requiring that the state request a NEPA EIS if actions pursuant to federal legislation are likely to result in radioactive waste entering the state at other than an approved port of entry.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Cooper, H. Myers, Riley and Jacobsen.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Energy & Utilities, February 7, 1992, DP;

Capital Facilities & Financing, February 11, 1992, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report: Do pass.  Signed by 8 members:  Representatives Grant, Chair; H. Myers, Vice Chair; May, Ranking Minority Member; Hochstatter, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper; R. Fisher; Jacobsen; and Miller.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Bray; Casada; and Rayburn.

Staff:  Fred Adair (786-7113).

Background:

Public interest has been strong in encouraging extensive state involvement in the management of radioactive waste.  Among the measures implemented is limitation of the points on the state border where radioactive waste may enter the state.  Inspection of transporting vehicles is done at those points.  Currently two are authorized, one at Plymouth, adjacent to McNary Dam on the Columbia River just below the Tri-Cities, and the other east of Spokane at the border on I-90.

Actions pursuant to the federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act and pertinent federal regulations could result in additional ports of entry, with the most likely one in the near term being at the Longview Bridge.

State interests can be served by state involvement in any relevant proceedings and by requiring transporting vehicle inspections at any additional ports of entry that may be established.  There should not be additional costs accruing to the state by designation of additional ports of entry.

Summary of Bill:

The state will intervene in any proceedings likely to result in additional ports of entry into the state for radioactive waste.  The state shall request preparation of an environmental impact statement.

Inspections identical to those now conducted at existing ports of entry will be conducted and will be financed by collection of a public safety tariff.  The amount of the tariff will be high enough to fully fund the cost of the inspections.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The environmental impact statement would provide additional information on why an additional port of entry might be needed.  It would answer questions that would be raised by the public.  The tariff is favored as a means to internalize the cost of an additional port of entry.

Testimony Against:  The tariff would constitute double taxation.

Witnesses:  David Allison, Heart of America Northwest (pro); and Barry Bede, U. S. Ecology, Inc. (Opposed to section 3 of bill).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

CAPITAL FACILITIES & FINANCING

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 15 members:  Representatives H. Sommers, Chair; Rasmussen, Vice Chair; Schmidt, Ranking Minority Member; Neher, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Beck; Braddock; Brough; Casada; Fraser; Heavey; Jacobsen; Ogden; Peery; Silver; and Wang.

Staff:  Karl Herzog (786-7271).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Capital Facilities & Financing Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Energy & Utilities:  Language is added to specify that the tariff will be collected by the Washington State Patrol and deposited into the state general fund.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation would require that all costs associated with inspections at a new port of entry would be borne by the transporters of radioactive waste utilizing the port of entry.  Transporters utilizing either of the two existing ports of entry would not be impacted.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative David Cooper, 18th District.