H-1592

AN ACT Relating to the Washington state center for environmental and molecular sciences; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) The technology and associated sciences that are necessary to clean up hazardous waste are not sufficiently advanced to make many waste management and environmental restoration efforts efficient and cost-effective.

(2) A lack of personnel trained in waste management and environmental restoration technologies will significantly impede future clean-up efforts.

(3) Research and development in molecular science may result in scientific breakthroughs that will assist future waste management and environmental restoration efforts, and lead to the design and development of new materials and processes that will advance scientific knowledge and technology.

(4) Research and development in the environmental and molecular sciences will require expertise that cuts across traditional areas of research, research efforts that require highly interdisciplinary approaches in the biological and physical sciences, and interdisciplinary education and training programs. Accordingly, the research and education in this area will require a blending of molecular science and technology and interdisciplinary education and training.

(5) Hanford has been cited as a centerpiece in the federal government's research and development efforts in molecular science and waste management and environmental restoration.

(6) The state of Washington and its institutions of higher education could benefit greatly from the technical and scientific expertise available at Hanford.

(7) The Washington State University branch campus in the Tri-Cities has a unique opportunity to help the state capitalize on this opportunity due to its close physical proximity to the department of energy's center for environmental excellence and its molecular science center situated at the Pacific Northwest laboratory.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. By November 1, 1991, Washington State University shall submit to the higher education coordinating board for approval a proposal for the long-term development of a center for environmental and molecular sciences at Washington State University/Tri-Cities.

A number of purposes are envisioned for the center and are delineated in this section. It is to be understood that the accomplishment of these purposes will require the active support of Washington State University/Pullman and, where clearly appropriate, the cooperative involvement of other educational, governmental, and industrial partners, such as the Pacific Northwest laboratory.

The center shall be designed to accomplish the following purposes:

(1) Coordinate the relationship of Washington State University with the federal government's waste management and environmental restoration efforts at the Hanford site, the Pacific Northwest laboratory's molecular science center and center for environmental excellence, and other environmental and molecular science research and technology efforts at the Hanford site, to ensure that all available expertise is utilized in aiding these programs, as well as ensuring that Washington State University is able to participate in these efforts.

(2) Develop upper-division and graduate instructional programs in environmental assessment and remediation technology and molecular sciences, as approved by the higher education coordinating board.

(3) Enhance research capabilities at Washington State University/Tri-Cities and Washington State University/Pullman in molecular science and hazardous waste management and environmental restoration technology by blending forefront molecular science research and waste management and environmental restoration educational efforts.

(4) Ensure that the state of Washington and its institutions of higher education benefit from the technical and scientific expertise at Hanford and the Tri-Cities.

(5) Develop the expertise necessary to assist in technology transfer of molecular science and hazardous waste research and development efforts to private industry, institutions of higher education, and other governmental agencies.

(6) Foster strong cooperative relationships among the federal government, the state, and businesses and industries interested in hazardous waste and molecular science research and development.

(7) Initiate collaborative research programs with Hanford contractors, staff, facilities, and equipment in support of instructional programs.

(8) Ensure that the molecular science and hazardous waste expertise of all Washington universities and colleges is made available to aid the federal research efforts.

Funding for education and research programs offered through the center shall supplement and not supplant funding for other education and research programs offered at Washington State University/Tri-Cities and Washington State University/Pullman. Moreover, the activities and programs of the Washington state center for environmental and molecular sciences shall be integrated with related activities and programs at Washington State University/Pullman.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The proposal provided for in section 2 of this act shall include:

(1) A review of existing relationships among federal entities and principal contractors at Hanford with Washington's institutions of higher education;

(2) A description of methods for coordinating with and utilizing the resources of the other institutions of higher education in the state with expertise in this area;

(3) A description of methods for coordinating relationships between Washington State University and the Pacific Northwest laboratory's molecular science center and center for environmental excellence, as well as other research efforts at the Hanford site;

(4) A description of the upper-division and graduate program curricula necessary at Washington State University to educate and train professionals needed to enhance Washington's efforts in molecular science and hazardous waste science and technology;

(5) An assessment of the research capabilities needed at Washington State University in molecular science and hazardous waste management and environmental restoration technology to improve the efficiency of clean-up efforts in the Tri-Cities and other areas in Washington;

(6) An estimate of the expertise and support necessary to assist in technology transfer of molecular science and hazardous waste research and development efforts;

(7) Recommendations on ways to provide maximum benefit to the citizens of Washington from the research at Hanford and the Tri-Cities;

(8) Estimated operating and facilities costs of the center; and

(9) Additional information as determined by the higher education coordinating board.

The higher education coordinating board shall review the proposal. In making its review, the higher education coordinating board shall evaluate both policy and fiscal aspects of the proposal and shall specifically review the center's proposed role and mission within the context of the development plan for branch campuses of Washington State University. The higher education coordinating board shall make recommendations to the governor and the legislature by February 1, 1992, on: (a) Whether to establish a Washington state center for environmental and molecular sciences, and, if so, (b) the long-term development of the center.