Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee

HB 1349

Brief Description:  Authorizing a funding mechanism for removal and disposal of derelict vessels.

Sponsors:  Representatives Kessler, Buck, Morris, Sehlin, Linville and Rockefeller.

Brief Summary of Bill

$Local governments may apply for Local Toxics Control Account grants or loans for the cleanup and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels.

Hearing Date:  2/8/01.

Staff:  Jeff Olsen (786‑7157).

Background: 

The State Toxics Control Account and the Local Toxics Control Account were created by the Legislature during the 1988 session and subsequently affirmed by the voters with the passage of Initiative 97, the Model Toxics Control Act, in November 1988.  The main purpose of the Model Toxics Control Act is to ?raise sufficient funds to clean up all hazardous waste sites and to prevent the creation of future hazards due to improper disposal of toxic wastes into the state=s land and waters.@

The primary source of revenue to the Toxics Control Account is the hazardous substances tax, a privilege tax on the first possesion of hazardous substances in the state.  Fifty-three percent of hazardous substance tax receipts are deposited in the Local Toxics Control Account and forty-seven percent of receipts are deposited in the State Toxics Control Account.  Revenues to the Local Toxics Control Account are estimated to be $61.0 million for the 1999-01 biennium.

Moneys deposited in the Local Toxics Control Account are used for grants or loans to local governments for the following purposes, in descending order of priority:

(1)Remedial actions to identify, eliminate, or minimize any threat or potential threat posed by hazardous substances to human health or the environment, including investigations, health assessments, and monitoring;

(2)Hazardous waste plans and programs; and

(3)Solid waste plans and programs.

Summary of Bill: 

Local governments are eligible to apply for Local Toxics Control Account grants or loans for the cleanup and disposal of abandoned and derelict vessels that pose a threat to human health or the environment.  The cleanup of derelict vessels would follow remedial actions, hazardous waste planning and solid waste planning in funding priority.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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