BP BHEAD INT H

AN ACT Relating to transferring support responsibility for the energy facility site evaluation council to the department of community, trade, and economic development; amending RCW 43.21F.045; reenacting and amending RCW 80.50.030; and adding a new section to chapter 43.330 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:

The department shall provide administrative assistance, space, and other support as may be necessary for the activities of the energy facility site evaluation council, as provided for in RCW 80.50.030.

Sec. 2. RCW 43.21F.045 and 1994 c 207 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

The energy office shall have the following duties:

(1) The office shall prepare and update contingency plans for implementation in the event of energy shortages or emergencies. The plans shall conform to chapter 43.21G RCW and shall include procedures for determining when these shortages or emergencies exist, the state officers and agencies to participate in the determination, and actions to be taken by various agencies and officers of state government in order to reduce hardship and maintain the general welfare during these emergencies. The office shall coordinate the activities undertaken pursuant to this subsection with other persons. The components of plans that require legislation for their implementation shall be presented to the legislature in the form of proposed legislation at the earliest practicable date. The office shall report to the governor and the legislature on probable, imminent, and existing energy shortages, and shall administer energy allocation and curtailment programs in accordance with chapter 43.21G RCW.

(2) The office shall establish and maintain a central repository in state government for collection of existing data on energy resources, including:

(a) Supply, demand, costs, utilization technology, projections, and forecasts;

(b) Comparative costs of alternative energy sources, uses, and applications; and

(c) Inventory data on energy research projects in the state conducted under public and/or private auspices, and the results thereof.

(3) The office shall coordinate federal energy programs appropriate for state-level implementation, carry out such energy programs as are assigned to it by the governor or the legislature, and monitor federally funded local energy programs as required by federal or state regulations.

(4) The office shall develop energy policy recommendations for consideration by the governor and the legislature.

(5) The office shall provide assistance, space, and other support as may be necessary for the activities of the state's two representatives to the Pacific northwest electric power and conservation planning council. To the extent consistent with federal law, the office shall request that Washington's council members request the administrator of the Bonneville power administration to reimburse the state for the expenses associated with the support as provided in the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation Act (P.L. 96-501).

(6) The office shall cooperate with state agencies, other governmental units, and private interests in the prioritization and implementation of the state energy strategy elements and on other energy matters.

(7) The office shall represent the interests of the state in the siting, construction, and operation of nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities.

(8) The office shall serve as the official state agency responsible for coordinating implementation of the state energy strategy.

(9) No later than December 1, 1982, and by December 1st of each even-numbered year thereafter, the office shall prepare and transmit to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature a report on the implementation of the state energy strategy and other important energy issues, as appropriate.

(10) The office shall provide support for increasing cost-effective energy conservation, including assisting in the removal of impediments to timely implementation.

(11) The office shall provide support for the development of cost-effective energy resources including assisting in the removal of impediments to timely construction.

(12) The office shall adopt rules, under chapter 34.05 RCW, necessary to carry out the powers and duties enumerated in this chapter.

(((13) The office shall provide administrative assistance, space, and other support as may be necessary for the activities of the energy facility site evaluation council, as provided for in RCW 80.50.030.))

Sec. 3. RCW 80.50.030 and 1994 c 264 s 75 and 1994 c 154 s 315 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) There is created and established the energy facility site evaluation council.

(2)(a) The chairman of the council shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, shall have a vote on matters before the council, shall serve for a term coextensive with the term of the governor, and is removable for cause. The chairman may designate a member of the council to serve as acting chairman in the event of the chairman's absence. The chairman is a "state employee" for the purposes of chapter 42.52 RCW. As applicable, when attending meetings of the council, members may receive reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and are eligible for compensation under RCW 43.03.240.

(b) The chairman or a designee shall execute all official documents, contracts, and other materials on behalf of the council. The ((~~Washington state energy office~~)) department of community, trade, and economic development shall provide all administrative and staff support for the council. The director of the ((~~energy office~~)) department of community, trade, and economic development has supervisory authority over the staff of the council and shall employ such personnel as are necessary to implement this chapter. Not more than three such employees may be exempt from chapter 41.06 RCW.

(3) The council shall consist of the directors, administrators, or their designees, of the following departments, agencies, commissions, and committees or their statutory successors:

(a) Department of ecology;

(b) Department of fish and wildlife;

(d) Department of health;

(e) State energy office;

(f) Department of community, trade, and economic development;

(g) Utilities and transportation commission;

(h) Office of financial management;

(i) Department of natural resources;

(j) Department of agriculture;

(k) Department of transportation.

(4) The appropriate county legislative authority of every county wherein an application for a proposed site is filed shall appoint a member or designee as a voting member to the council. The member or designee so appointed shall sit with the council only at such times as the council considers the proposed site for the county which he or she represents, and such member or designee shall serve until there has been a final acceptance or rejection of the proposed site;

(5) The city legislative authority of every city within whose corporate limits an energy plant is proposed to be located shall appoint a member or designee as a voting member to the council. The member or designee so appointed shall sit with the council only at such times as the council considers the proposed site for the city which he or she represents, and such member or designee shall serve until there has been a final acceptance or rejection of the proposed site.

(6) For any port district wherein an application for a proposed port facility is filed subject to this chapter, the port district shall appoint a member or designee as a nonvoting member to the council. The member or designee so appointed shall sit with the council only at such times as the council considers the proposed site for the port district which he or she represents, and such member or designee shall serve until there has been a final acceptance or rejection of the proposed site. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if the port district is the applicant, either singly or in partnership or association with any other person.