HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6033

As Amended by the House

BYSenate Committee on Energy & Utilities (originally sponsored by Senators Benitz and Stratton)

Terminating the powers and duties of the nuclear waste board and the nuclear waste advisory board.

House Committe on Energy & Utilities

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments. (10)

      Signed by Representatives Nelson, Chair; Todd, Vice Chair; Hankins, Ranking Republican Member; Brooks, Cooper, Jacobsen, Jesernig, May, H. Myers and S. Wilson.

House Staff:Harry Reinert (786-7110)

AS PASSED HOUSE APRIL 11, 1989

BACKGROUND:

In 1983 the Legislature established the Nuclear Waste Board and the Nuclear Waste Advisory Council to review the state's radioactive waste program.  The board's chairman is appointed by the Governor.  There are six other voting members representing various state agencies and eight non-voting legislative members. The council has at least fifteen members to be appointed by the Governor.  The board initially had advisory responsibility to the Department of Ecology.

The Legislature expanded the role of the Nuclear Waste Board in 1984 to be the lead agency of the state with respect to negotiations with the United States Department of Energy. Washington State was at that time being considered by the United States Department of Energy as a possible site for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste.  If Washington had been recommended as the site for a high level repository, the board was required to review the recommendation for adequacy and report to the Legislature on whether the state should have accepted the site selected by the Department of Energy.  Congress, in 1987, removed Washington as a site for the first high-level radioactive waste repository.

The board is also directed to assist in developing cooperation among state agencies and providing information to the legislature and the public on issues related to radioactive waste management.

The Department of Ecology has been designated as the state agency for participation in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the Amendments of 1985.  It is the agency responsible for administering the low-level radioactive waste program.  The department also has responsibility for providing the Nuclear Waste Board with administrative and technical staff support.

On February 27, 1989 the Department of Ecology, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Department of Energy signed a proposed Agreement and Consent Order relating to the cleanup of portions of the Hanford Reservation operated by the Department of Energy.

SUMMARY:

The Nuclear Waste Board and its responsibilities are terminated.  The Nuclear Waste Advisory council is restructured and reports to the Department of Ecology.  The membership of the advisory council is modified to include 11 citizens appointed by the Governor and eight legislators.  The advisory council shall hold meetings throughout the state.

Statutes referring to the Nuclear Waste Board are amended to delete or correct the reference.  If the state and the federal government execute the Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order within 90 days after the end of the Legislative session, the Nuclear Waste Board terminates 90 days after the end of session.  If the agreement is not signed within this 90 day period, the Nuclear Waste Board is terminated on the earlier of the date the agreement is executed or June 30, 1990.  The advisory council is terminated June 30, 1994.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Dan Silver, Governor's Office (Amendment).

House Committee - Testified Against:      Sara McCoy, Puget Sound SANE/Freeze; Michael Gilbert, Heart of America Northwest.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The purpose for which the Nuclear Waste Board was created is no longer present.  This bill will allow a change in focus to implementation of the three-party agreement.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      The bill will reduce the public's involvement in issues related to the radioactive waste management program.