FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1609

                         C 243 L 97

                     Synopsis as Enacted

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

Sponsors:  House Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by  Representatives Mastin, Poulsen, Hankins and Kessler; by request of Utilities & Transportation Commission).

House Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

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 are 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.

Summary:  Maximum disposal rates for low-level radioactive waste will be adjusted once a year in January.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate470

Effective:July 27,  1997