HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1448

BYRepresentatives Jacobsen, R. Meyers, Ballard, Jesernig, Miller, Brough, Silver, May, Grant and D. Sommers 

Providing for the expenditure of surcharges assessed on radioactive waste disposal.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments. (13)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Brooks, Cooper, Gallagher, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, R. Meyers, Miller, H. Myers and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113) and Harry Reinert (786-7110)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Energy & Utilities. (24)

      Signed by Representative Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair; H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Brough, Dorn, Ebersole, Ferguson, Hine, May, McLean, Padden, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry

House Staff:      Nancy Stevenson (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

FEBRUARY 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act gives states the responsibility to manage disposal of low-level radioactive waste.  States may form interstate compacts, with one state providing the disposal site for the compact.  Beginning in 1988, states with disposal sites were allowed to collect an out-of-region surcharge as an incentive for other states to establish compacts and disposal sites.  The surcharge escalates biennially until it is terminated in 1992.  The federal statute requires that 25 percent of the surcharge be returned to the federal government.  The fees collected from the surcharge are deposited in the general fund.

A perpetual care and maintenance account was created by the Legislature to pay for maintaining a closed low-level radioactive waste disposal site if this responsibility were to fall on the state.  More recently, through an amendment to the state/operator site sublease, a site closure account was also created. Both accounts are funded by levies on each cubic foot of waste disposed.  The state is responsible for determining whether additional money for these accounts are needed.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  50 percent of the portion of the out-of-region surcharge on low-level radioactive waste disposed of at the Hanford disposal facility retained by the state shall be deposited in the perpetual maintenance account for use in post-closure activities.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The amendments require the portion of the surcharge put in the perpetual maintenance account to be used only for post-closure activities and clarify that federal law governs the portion of the surcharge that may be retained by the state.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS: None.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Energy & Utilities) Barry Bede, U.S. Ecology.

(Appropriations) Barry Bede, U.S. Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      (Energy & Utilities) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Energy & Utilities) At least a part of the surcharge collected on out-of-region waste should be set aside to assure that sufficient funds are available to pay for post-closure activities at the Hanford facility.

(Appropriations) The Department of Ecology has determined that $55.0 million is needed for closure and post-closure activities. At least a portion of the surcharge collected on out of region waste should be set aside to assure sufficient funds are available to pay for post closure care.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      (Energy & Utilities) None Presented.

(Appropriations) None Presented.