HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 HJM 4030

                    As Amended by Senate

Brief Description:  Concerning federal funds for the cleanup of the Hanford waste disposal site.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hankins, Honeyford, Delvin, Grant and Kessler.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  3/1/95 [DP].

  Floor Activity:

     Passed House:  3/9/95, 97-0.

Senate Amended.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Koster, Vice Chairman; McMorris, Vice Chairman; Mastin, Ranking Minority Member; Chappell, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Boldt; Clements; Delvin; R. Fisher; Honeyford; Johnson; Kremen; Poulsen; Regala; Robertson; Rust and Schoesler.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  In May 1989, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Ecology entered into the "Tri-Party Agreement".  This agreement is a 30-year plan to clean up the contamination on the Hanford Reservation.  The milestones in the agreement are legally enforceable.

Summary of Bill:  The Memorial makes a number of findings regarding the cleanup of the Hanford Reservation, including a finding that the U.S. General Accounting Office estimated that 40 percent of the Hanford cleanup funds have been expended on administrative, legal, or regulatory compliance activities.

The Memorial requests that the federal government work with state and local officials to eliminate duplicative U.S. Department of Energy orders, streamline paperwork requirements, and reduce unnecessary costs.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The amendment adds provisions requesting that necessary cleanup facilities are constructed and that the commitment to funding and implementing the Tri-Party Agreement is kept.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Testimony For:  The Memorial will make it easier for our state's congressional delegation to expedite the cleanup process on the Hanford Reservation.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Shirley Hankins (prime sponsor).

Votes on Final Passage:

Yeas 97; Excused 1

Excused:  Blanton