SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5126

BYSenators Benitz, Williams, Bluechel, Owen, Nelson, Stratton, Sutherland and Metcalf

Amending the provisions for a surveillance fee for low-level radioactive waste disposal.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 20, 1989; January 26, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5126 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Benitz, Chairman; Metcalf, Nelson, Owen, Stratton, Sutherland, Williams.

Senate Staff:Phil Moeller (786-7455)

                  January 26, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, JANUARY 26, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Specific fees are assessed on each cubic foot of low-level radioactive waste disposed in the commercial facility at Hanford.  Monies raised from one such charge, the surveillance fee, are to fund completely the radiation control activities of the Office of Radiation Protection within the Department of Social and Health Services.  These activities extend into functions unrelated to the commercial facility.  The surveillance fee may also fund activities of other state agencies overseeing disposal of low-level radioactive waste.

The surveillance fee is currently set at its statutory maximum, 4 percent of the basic minimum fee charged by the commercial operator of the disposal site.  The basic fee is now $28.91 per cubic foot.  Four percent of this fee is approximately $1.14, and the site received approximately 400,000 cubic feet of waste in 1988.  This funding scheme was developed in 1985 when waste volume exceed one million cubic feet per year.

SUMMARY:

The use of monies generated by the surveillance fee is limited to DSHS activities which are directly related to the management, licensing or regulation of the disposal site.  Monies from the fee may also be used to reimburse the Washington State Patrol for costs incurred from inspection of low-level radioactive waste shipments entering the state.  The Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services is responsible for disbursing these funds to the State Patrol.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

Language is added to clarify that any Department of Social and Health Services' functions directly related to the site may be funded by the surveillance fee.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 16, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Barry Bide, US Ecology; Terry Strong, Department of Social and Health Services; Terry Husseman, Department of Ecology