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                           ENGROSSED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 106

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State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Talmadge, McManus, Williams and McDermott

Read first time 1/22/85 and referred to Committee on Energy and Utilities.

WHEREAS, The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 establishes a program for the permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste; and

          WHEREAS, State and public participation in the planning and development of repositories is essential in order to promote public confidence in the safety of disposal of such waste and spent fuel; and

          WHEREAS, There are grave concerns as to the adequacy of the general guidelines issued pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 with respect to the methodology and the process by which the guidelines were adopted; and

          WHEREAS, The draft Environmental Assessment has ranked the Hanford site in eastern Washington in the top three for final site selection as a repository; and

          WHEREAS, The states of Nevada and Texas and a coalition of environmental groups have initiated separate lawsuits against the United States Department of Energy for failure to comply with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act; and

          WHEREAS, The Legislature recognizes and commends the pursuit of legal redress by the Nuclear Waste Board;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the Governor and the Attorney General are encouraged to take whatever actions are necessary to represent the state fully and adequately in any legal matter involving the state and arising under the federal Nuclear Waste Policy Act.