HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5126

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz, Williams, Bluechel, Owen, Nelson, Stratton, Sutherland and Metcalf)

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

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment. (7)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Cooper, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, Miller and H. Myers.

House Staff:Fred Adair (786-7113)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 4, 1989

BACKGROUND:

A surveillance fee charged for each cubic foot of low-level radioactive waste disposed is to fund completely those radiation control activities of the Office of Radiation Protection within the Department of Social and Health Services and other state agencies that are not funded by separate fees.  These activities extend into functions unrelated to the commercial waste disposal facility.

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.  This funding scheme was developed in 1985 when waste volume was sufficient for the intended purposes, but waste volume has declined drastically and is no longer sufficient.

SUMMARY:

The low-level radioactive waste disposal surveillance fee shall be used by the Department of Social and Health Services only for regulation of the disposal site and to pay the Washington State Patrol for inspection of low-level radioactive waste shipments entering the state.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Barry Bede, U.S. Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The reduced proceeds from the surveillance fee just cover the costs of disposal oversight and should be limited to that purpose.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.