| Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research |
BILL ANALYSIS |
| Technology, Energy & Communications Committee | |
HB 2995
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Brief Description: Regarding the restoration and redevelopment of unfinished nuclear power project sites for the purposes of creating an electrical generating research and energy park.
Sponsors: Representatives Haler, Hailey, Ahern and Hankins.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/5/08
Staff: Scott Richards (786-7156).
Background:
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) is the one-stop permitting and
certificating authority for the siting of major energy facilities in Washington. Approved facilities
are issued site certification agreements, which list the conditions for constructing and operating
the projects. The EFSEC has regulations for amending and terminating site certification
agreements.
The EFSEC does not have the authority to issue water right permits. It does, however, have the
exclusive authority to specify the operational conditions of a project, which may include an
authorization to use water.
In the 1970s, EFSEC certified five nuclear power projects owned by the Washington Public
Power Supply System (Supply System), now called Energy Northwest. Two projects were
located in Satsop and three in Hanford. Only one project was completed: WNP-2 in Hanford,
later renamed the Columbia Generating Station.
In 1996 the Legislature authorized the transfer of site restoration responsibilities for unfinished
reactor sites from the Supply System to a political subdivision or subdivisions of the state. Two
unfinished reactors located at the Satsop site in Grays Harbor County (WNP-3 and WNP-5) were
subsequently transferred to a local public development district consisting of Grays Harbor
County and Grays Harbor Public Utility District. In 2000 the Legislature extended authority to
transfer site restoration responsibilities to unfinished nuclear power projects that are located on
federal property.
Immediately upon release of all or a portion of the site, all responsibilities for maintaining the
public welfare portions of the site are transferred to the political subdivision or subdivisions of
the state. Surface water rights for the site may be transferred as well. The preferred method of
transferring water rights is through use of existing statutes and administrative rules. If an
administrative transfer is not possible, the Department of Ecology (DOE) must create a trust
water right containing between 10 and 20 cubic feet per second for the benefit for the appropriate
political subdivision or subdivisions of the state.
Summary of Bill:
If an EFSEC certificate holder of an unfinished nuclear power project transfers all or a portion of
a site to an electrical generating research and energy park, EFSEC must amend the site
certification agreement to release those portions of the site that are transferred.
If a site is transferred to an electrical generating research and energy park after January 1, 2005,
the DOE must continue any EFSEC water authorization up to 15 cubic feet per second as
requested by the recipient.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on February 4, 2008.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.