SENATE BILL REPORT

 

                           SHB 1886

 

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, MARCH 23, 1993

 

 

Brief Description:  Authorizing the board of boiler rules to prescribe extended inspection schedules for power boilers.

 

SPONSORS: House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Representatives Grant, Miller, Kessler, Horn, Kremen and Casada)

 

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

 

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Jesernig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Owen, Roach, Vognild, and West.

 

Staff:  Erika Lim (786‑7488)

 

Hearing Dates: March 22, 1993; March 23, 1993

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

Power boilers must be inspected annually by the state.  It has been suggested that more time between inspections would not compromise safety.

 

SUMMARY:

 

Power boilers are inspected annually except that the Board of Boiler Rules has the discretion to provide for longer periods between inspections.  The board may consider the contents, history, or operation of the boiler in determining the interval between inspections.  The inspection procedures are not changed.

 

No more than two months longer than the period between inspections prescribed by the board may pass between internal and external inspections of a boiler while not under pressure.

 

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

 

Language providing a more specific reference is inserted.

 

Appropriation:  none

 

Revenue:  none

 

Fiscal Note:  available

 

TESTIMONY FOR:

 

Inspections require that boilers be shut down, which is expensive and disruptive.  Improved technology allows for safer operation for longer periods of time.  Allowing the board to increase the interval between inspections will not compromise safety.

 

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

 

TESTIFIED:  Joe Brewer, Department of Labor and Industries (pro); Collins Sprague, Washington Water and Power (pro); Molly Bork, Pacificorp (pro)