S-2216.1                   _______________________________________________

                                            SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5445

                              _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Williams, McCaslin and Pelz)

Read first time 03/03/93.

Removing nuclear construction authority from joint operating agencies created under RCW 43.52.360.

          AN ACT Relating to joint operating agency nuclear construction authority requiring site certification under chapter 80.50 RCW; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that there is an increasingly remote chance of completing the suspended nuclear projects in the state, WNP-1 at Hanford and WNP-3 at Satsop.  The legislature further finds that there is a need for more definitive information regarding the procedures and impacts relating to terminating these facilities as well as a need for more information on the requirements and impacts affecting the projects and their sites if the plants remain uncompleted.  The legislature also finds that valuable information can be obtained from examining the process used to determine the economic viability of the Trojan nuclear plant.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  There is hereby created a joint select committee on nuclear project termination review.  The committee shall consist of two members of each major political caucus in the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, and two members of each major political caucus in the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.  In selecting members to serve on the joint select committee, preference shall be given to members of the energy and utilities committees.  Support shall be provided by existing legislative staff.  The joint select committee shall review the policy mechanisms, legal procedures and impacts relating to termination, continued preservation, or alternate uses of the sites for WNP-1 and WNP-3.  The joint select committee may consider other relevant topics pertaining to the status of WNP-1 and WNP-3 or the sites of these reactors.  When conducting the review, the joint select committee shall consult with the Washington public power supply system, Portland general electric, the state of Oregon, environmental groups, the Northwest power planning council, the Bonneville power administration, the financial community, the Washington state energy office, the energy facility site evaluation council, ratepayer advocacy groups, public utilities that are participants in the projects, labor organizations, and other relevant groups.  The joint select committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and appropriate standing committees of the legislature no later than December 1, 1993.

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