FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5926

PARTIAL VETO

                              C 418 L 89

BYSenators Benitz, Williams and Stratton

Requiring development of contingency plans relating to the low-level radioactive waste facility at Hanford.

Senate Committee on Energy & Utilities

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

Washington is one of three states which host commercial disposal sites for low-level radioactive waste.  In an attempt to force other regions to develop disposal sites, Congress passed legislation in 1985 creating a series of milestones for developing additional sites.

States may join regional compacts to develop disposal sites.  Washington is the host state of a compact which includes Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Utah.  States with disposal sites, such as Washington, are empowered to deny disposal access to waste generated outside the compact after 1992.  The disposal site at Hanford is located on land leased by the state from the federal government and subleased to the commercial operator.  In 1988, just over 400,000 cubic feet of waste was disposed at the facility, of which approximately 125,000 cubic feet was generated in the compact region.  The disposal site generated approximately $9 million in revenue for the state of Washington in 1988.

A compact committee, consisting of one member from each member state, exists for compact administration.  The location of the compact committee meetings has rotated between member states.  Costs for administration of the compact are reimbursed by permit fees charged by the state to those entities which are approved to dispose waste at the site.

A perpetual maintenance account related to the disposal site exists in the state treasury.  A perpetual maintenance fee is charged on each cubic foot of waste disposed at the site.  Funds in the account are to be used exclusively for the perpetual surveillance and maintenance costs related to the site.  Funds have been collected in the past which are earmarked for reimbursing costs incurred in the eventual closure of the site.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Ecology is directed to develop contingency plans for the department and other state agencies related to the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.  Plans are to be based on various projections of waste volume and are to include an analysis of expected revenue changes based on different disposal volumes.  The initial set of plans is due October 1, 1989 and is to be updated annually.

A perpetual maintenance fund is created in the state treasury to provide a mechanism to pay for future costs related to the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility.  The fund is to consist of a site closure account and a perpetual surveillance and maintenance account.

All moneys currently administered by the Department of Ecology for closure of the site are transferred to the site closure account.  All moneys currently in the perpetual maintenance account are transferred to the perpetual surveillance and maintenance account.  Until December 31, 1992, moneys contributed to the perpetual maintenance fund shall be directed to the site closure account.  Thereafter receipts may be directed to either account as specified by the department.

The state is prohibited from reimbursing costs of compact meetings held outside the state of Washington.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

     Senate   46    0

     House 92  2 (House amended)

     Senate          (Senate refused to concur)

Free Conference Committee

     House 97  0

     Senate   45    0

EFFECTIVE:July 23, 1989

Partial Veto Summary:  The intent section, which states that the site generates significant revenue and that a proper analysis of losing this revenue has not been conducted, is vetoed.  The section which prohibits the state from reimbursing the costs of out-of-state compact meetings is also vetoed.  (See VETO MESSAGE)