SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5279

                    AS OF FEBRUARY 9, 1993

Brief Description:  Reprioritizing funding for toxics cleanup.

SPONSORS: Senators Hargrove, Owen, L. Smith and Anderson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Staff:  Shannon Murphy (786‑7483)

Hearing Dates: February 10, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Model Toxics Control Act was adopted by voters as Initiative 97 in November 1988.  The purpose of the act is to raise sufficient funds to clean up hazardous waste sites and to prevent creation of future hazards due to improper disposal of toxic wastes into the state's land and waters.

     The toxics control account is established under the Model Toxics Control Act.  One element of the toxics control account provides that 1 percent of the money deposited into the state and local toxics control account is to be allocated to public participation grants.  These grants are available to persons who are adversely affected by a release or threatened release of a hazardous substance and to not-for-profit organizations.  The purpose of these grants is to encourage participation by persons and organizations in the investigation and remedying of releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances.  The maximum grant available annually is $50,000.  Money not expended by the public participation grants revert back to the state toxics control account at the end of the biennium.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature finds that the needs for clean up of toxic substances far exceed the financial resources available.  In order to direct funding for actual cleanup of hazardous materials from the toxic control account, the 1 percent of moneys deposited into the state and local toxics control account for public participation grants is eliminated.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 22, 1993