HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6061

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz, Stratton and Bluechel)

Requiring the state patrol to develop a permanent working group to periodically review guidelines and response capabilities to radioactive materials and waste.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments. (11)

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

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

Rereferred House Committee on Appropriations

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended by Committee on Appropriations and without amendments by Committee on Energy & Utilities.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Grant, Vice Chair;H. Sommers, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Youngsman, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Belcher, Bowman, Brekke, Dorn, Doty, Ferguson, Hine, Holland, May, McLean, Padden, Peery, Rust, Sayan, Spanel, Sprenkle, Valle, Wang and Wineberry.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  (1)

      Signed by Representative Nealey.

House Staff:      Jack Daray (786-7136)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State Patrol and the Utilities and Transportation Commission currently inspect shipments of radioactive waste entering the state.  Users of radioactive materials are licensed and supervised by the Office of Radiation Protection of the Department of Social and Health Services.

There is some concern that if an accident were to occur during a radioactive materials shipment in a remote area, there could be confusion over the response roles of local and state agencies.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  The State Patrol is directed to either develop a permanent working group or use an existing working group to periodically review guidelines and response capabilities pertaining to radioactive materials and radioactive waste.  Members of the group shall include representatives of the Office of Radiation Protection, the Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Community Development, county sheriffs and any other entity chosen by the chief.

The State Patrol, assisted by the Office of Radiation Protection and the Division of Emergency Management, shall report annually to the Governor and the House and Senate Energy & Utilities Committees on the use and transportation of radioactive materials within the state.  The report shall also contain an evaluation of the adequacy of the emergency response capability for radioactive materials transportation accidents.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO SUBSTITUTE:  The State Patrol may use an existing working group rather than forming a new one.  Also, the Patrol shall have the lead in preparing the annual report, with assistance to be provided by both the Office of Radiation Protection and the Division of Emergency Management.

CHANGES PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS:  The committee adopted a striking amendment which incorporates the amendments proposed by the Committee on Energy & Utilities and deleted the section containing the appropriation.

Appropriation:    (Energy & Utilities) $25,000 to Washington State Patrol.

(Appropriations) Deleted.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (Energy & Utilities) Kate Heimbach, Division of Emergency Management of the Department of Community Development; Major Rick Jensen, Washington State Patrol; Gary Robertson, Office of Radiation Protection, Department of Social and Health Services.

(Appropriations) Senator Max Benitz.

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

(Appropriations) None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    (Energy & Utilities) Radioactive materials shipments comprise about 1 percent of total hazardous materials shipments.  There are about 60,000 rail and highway movements of radioactive materials into, out of, or within the state annually.  There was an assessment in 1987 done by the Division of Emergency Management and local government units felt poorly prepared for accident response.  All radioactive waste shipments into the state are inspected at the border.  There are spot checks of other radioactive materials shipments.  The State Patrol has 400 agreements with local governments on hazardous materials response coordination and support.  There is now a statutory hazardous materials coordinating body.  Both the Office of Radiation Protection and Division of Emergency Management have 24 hour emergency response telephone numbers.

(Appropriations) Supported concept of coordinated approach to information sharing.

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

(Appropriations) None Presented.