SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 2835

       AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, FEBRUARY 27, 1992

Brief Description:  Modifying the membership of the radioactive waste management advisory council.

SPONSORS: Representatives Cooper, H. Myers, Peery, Hine and G. Fisher

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

      Signed by Senators Thorsness, Chairman; Saling, Vice Chairman; Nelson, Patterson, Roach, Stratton, and Williams.

Minority Report: Do not pass as amended.

      Signed by Senator Sutherland.

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786‑7445)

Hearing Dates: February 25, 1992; February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

In the early 1980s, when the state was a candidate for location of a high-level radioactive waste disposal site, a Nuclear Waste Board and a Nuclear Waste Advisory Council were created to focus state concerns and to convey them to the federal government.

As a result of congressional action to locate the site in Nevada, in 1989 the Nuclear Waste Board was terminated, but the Nuclear Waste Advisory Council was retained, chiefly to serve in connection with federal actions to clean up federal government radioactive waste on the Hanford Reservation.  This council was reconfigured to include eight legislative members and 11 citizen members.

SUMMARY:

The Nuclear Waste Advisory Council membership is changed to eliminate legislative members.  The total membership is thereby reduced from 19 to 11.

The council is directed to report annually to the House and Senate Committees on Energy and Utilities and to the Governor.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The original bill is stricken. 

The striking amendment terminates the Nuclear Waste Advisory Council and contains an emergency clause.

TESTIMONY FOR:

The council needs to change its focus.  Legislators have a difficult time attending the meetings.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

The council should remain intact.  It is scheduled to terminate in 1994.

TESTIFIED:  Warren A. Bishop, Nuclear Waste Advisory Council; Dan Silver, Governor's office