FINAL BILL REPORT

                  ESJM 8005

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Petitioning for use of the Fast Flux Test Facility to meet critical national needs.

Sponsors:  Senators Hale, Loveland, Rasmussen, Bauer, Haugen, Oke, Horn, Morton and Deccio.

Background:  The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a multi-purpose, late-generation nuclear reactor located on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.  It has the potential to produce medical isotopes used in cancer treatments.  It also has the potential to produce tritium during an interim period until the federal government constructs a new tritium-producing reactor. Tritium is a key component in nuclear weapons and has a relatively short half-life that requires an ongoing production source.  Delaying the construction of a new reactor for tritium production by using the FFTF may allow funds to be used for environmental restoration clean-up activities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

Summary:  President Clinton, all members of Congress, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Energy are urged to ensure that Congress and executive agencies approve and endorse the full and fair evaluation of the Fast Flux Test Facility for use in meeting critical national needs, and are urged to ensure that the long-term best interests of clean-up activities at Hanford and cancer research be given top priority by the United States Department of Energy in arriving at its decision.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 38 7

House     Adopted