HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1609

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                     Energy & Utilities

Title:  An act relating to low‑level radioactive waste disposal sites.

Brief Description:  Limiting the number of times the maximum disposal fee at a radioactive waste disposal site may be adjusted.

Sponsors:  Representatives Mastin, Poulsen, Hankins and Kessler; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Energy & Utilities:  2/18/97, 2/25/97 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 12 members:  Representatives Crouse, Chairman; DeBolt, Vice Chairman; Mastin, Vice Chairman; Poulsen, Ranking Minority Member; Morris, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bush; Cooper; Honeyford; Kessler; Mielke; Mulliken and B. Thomas.

Staff:  Margaret Allen (786-7110).

Background:  In 1980, Congress passed the Low Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, which allows states to form compacts to manage commercial low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) generated within a given compact region.  Washington is a member of the Northwest Interstate Compact; other compact members include Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

Typical LLRW includes contaminated tools, rags, clothing, wood, filters, medical materials, and some industrial wastes, from such sources as hospitals, research institutions, radiopharmaceutical industries, and nuclear utilities. 

The only site available for disposing of LLRW generated in the eight states that are members of the Northwest Interstate Compact is located on the Hanford Reservation in Eastern Washington.  An agreement between the Northwest Interstate Compact and the Rocky Mountain Compact allows the site to accept limited quantities of LLRW from Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico as well.

In 1991, the Legislature enacted legislation requiring the site operator to be subject to rate regulation by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The maximum disposal rates are adjusted semi-annually in January and July each year to incorporate inflation and volume adjustments.  It has been has been suggested that semi-annual adjustments decrease rate predictability and are unnecessary.

Summary of Bill:  Maximum disposal rates for LLRW will be adjusted annually only, in January.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This legislation was requested by the WUTC.  The requirement that US Ecology file new rates with the WUTC every six months is unnecessary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Teresa Osinski, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.