AN ACT Relating to low-level radioactive waste; amending RCW 43.200.080; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the possibility exists for a drastic reduction in the volume of low-level radioactive waste disposed at Hanford in several years if waste from outside the region is denied access to the facility. The legislature further finds that the state has become dependent upon the millions of dollars of revenue generated by the waste site, funds which are annually deposited in the state general fund and other state accounts, and that proper analysis of the impacts of a loss of these funds has not been conducted, leaving the state in a potentially vulnerable position.

Sec. 2. Section 8, chapter 19, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess. as amended by section 1, chapter 2, Laws of 1986 and RCW 43.200.080 are each amended to read as follows:

The director of ecology shall, in addition to the powers and duties otherwise imposed by law, have the following special powers and duties:

(1) To fulfill the responsibilities of the state under the lease between the state of Washington and the federal government executed September 10, 1964, covering one thousand acres of land lying within the Hanford reservation near Richland, Washington. The department of ecology may sublease to private or public entities all or a portion of the land for specific purposes or activities which are determined, after public hearing, to be in agreement with the terms of the lease and in the best interests of the citizens of the state consistent with any criteria that may be developed as a requirement by the legislature;

(2) To assume the responsibilities of the state under the perpetual care agreement between the state of Washington and the federal government executed July 29, 1965. In order to finance perpetual surveillance and maintenance under the agreement, the department of ecology shall impose and collect fees from parties holding radioactive materials for waste management purposes. The fees shall be established by rule adopted under chapter ((~~34.04~~)) 34.05 RCW and shall be an amount determined by the department of ecology to be necessary to defray the estimated liability of the state. Such fees shall reflect equity between the disposal facilities of this and other states. All such fees, when received by the department of ecology, shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall act as custodian. The treasurer shall place the money in a special account which may be designated the "perpetual maintenance account." Appropriations are required to permit expenditures and payment of obligations from this account, and the condition of the account and its administration shall be reported biennially to the legislature by the director. Moneys in the perpetual maintenance account shall be invested by the state investment board in the same manner as other state moneys. Any interest accruing as a result of investment shall accrue to the perpetual maintenance account. Additional moneys specifically appropriated by the legislature or received from any public or private source may be placed in the perpetual maintenance account. The perpetual maintenance account shall be used exclusively for surveillance and maintenance costs, or for otherwise satisfying surveillance and maintenance obligations;

(3) To assure maintenance of such insurance coverage by state licensees, lessees, or sublessees as will adequately, in the opinion of the director, protect the citizens of the state against nuclear accidents or incidents that may occur on privately or state-controlled nuclear facilities;

(4) To institute a user permit system and issue site use permits, consistent with regulatory practices, for generators, packagers, or brokers using the Hanford low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. The costs of administering the user permit system shall be borne by the applicants for site use permits. The site use permit fee shall be set at a level that is sufficient to fund completely the executive and legislative participation in activities related to the Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management; ((~~and~~))

(5) To make application for or otherwise pursue any federal funds to which the state may be eligible, through the federal resource conservation and recovery act or any other federal programs, for the management, treatment or disposal, and any remedial actions, of wastes that are both radioactive and hazardous at all Hanford low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities; and

(6) To develop contingency plans for duties and options for the department and other state agencies related to the Hanford low-level radioactive waste disposal facility based on various projections of annual levels of waste disposal. These plans shall include an analysis of expected revenue to the state in various taxes and funds related to low-level radioactive waste disposal and the resulting implications that any increase or decrease in revenue may have on state agency duties or responsibilities. The initial set of plans shall be completed by October 1, 1989, and shall be updated annually. The department shall report on the plans to the energy and utilities committees of the senate and the house of representatives.