SENATE BILL REPORT

                           ESB 5780

               AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 12, 1993

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

SPONSORS: Senators Sutherland, Hochstatter, Snyder, Sellar, Amondson, Vognild and Bauer

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

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

Staff:  Erika Lim (786‑7488)

Hearing Dates: February 25, 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.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested February 22, 1993

TESTIMONY FOR:

Having to shut down boilers annually for inspection causes unnecessary disruption of service and incurs unnecessary costs because safety is not compromised by longer intervals between inspections.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Ron Newbry, Pacificorp; Jerry Bridgewater, Pacificorp; Collins Sprague, Washington Water Power; Joe Brewer, Department of Labor and Industries