Notice of Introduction for House Bill 2634 - Update: 10 Year Analysis Complete

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UPDATE: The 10 year analysis for HB 2634, titled AN ACT Relating to the safe management of radioactive waste and cleanup of hazardous substance releases into the environment with recognition of treaty rights of federally recognized tribes, providing for fees for generators of radioactive wastes and approval of new sources of waste prior to disposal, has been completed. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected fee payers.

Ten-year projection:

Fiscal Year		Hazardous Substance and Radioactive Releases Fee
2026		$0
2027		$0
2028		$136,304
2029		$272,579
2030		$272,579
2031		$133,003
2032		$0
2033		$0
2034		$0
2035		$0
Total:		$814,465

Department of Ecology:

Hazardous Substance and Radioactive Releases Fee:  Section 7 (2) 

Section 7(2) would require Ecology to assess a fee on all generators of waste from commercial nuclear reactors on each unit of waste disposed of at the commercial radioactive waste disposal facility that is adequate to fully fund the requirements of section 2, including the costs of the State of Washington to implement this bill, and for reimbursement to the Tribes for their participation in the investigation. Ecology assumes a “unit of waste” is representative of a cubic foot, as referenced in section 7(1).

The average waste disposal between calendar years 2021 through 2026 was 16,017 cubic feet per year. However, in 2024 there was 47% reduction in waste disposal, making the average annual waste disposal for 2021 through 2023 (three (3) years) at 20,375 cubic feet.  The average for 2024 and 2025 was 9,481 cubic feet. For the purpose of this fiscal note, Ecology assumes the average of waste disposal volume at 9,481 cubic feet; however, trends suggest that the volume of waste disposed at the facility is decreasing each year and waste generators have other facility options to dispose waste. 

Per section 7 (2), the fee would be required to fully fund the investigation, development of a remediation plan and impact statement, and to complete all remedial actions adopted for the facility. Ecology estimates that its portion of the waste generator’s fee would be $29 per cubic foot of waste to reimburse Ecology’s estimated costs in the expenditure narrative below. This fee estimate does not include Ecology’s indeterminate costs, Tribal indeterminate costs, and activities necessary to stabilize and secure a closed facility. The costs associated with the execution of the remediation decision, to stabilize and secure a closed facility, would be funded by the Site Closure Account (Fund 125) pursuant to RCW 70A.384.050.  

FY 2028: $136,304

FY 2029: $272,579

FY 2030: $272,579

FY 2031: $133,003

Ten-year projection prepared in consultation with the following agencies:

Department of Ecology


Bill sponsors and contact information:

Representative Gerry Pollet, Prime Sponsor
Democrat
(360) 786-7886
gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov

Representative Adam Bernbaum
Democrat
(360) 786-7916
BERNBAUM_AD@leg.wa.gov

Representative Chris Stearns
Democrat
(360) 786-7858
Chris.Stearns@leg.wa.gov

Representative Cindy Ryu
Democrat
(360) 786-7880
cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov

Representative Lisa Parshley
Democrat
(360) 786-7992
Lisa.Parshley@leg.wa.gov

Representative Greg Nance
Democrat
(360) 786-7842
Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov

Representative Mari Leavitt
Democrat
(360) 786-7890
mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Roger Goodman
Democrat
(360) 786-7878
roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov

Representative Jamila Taylor
Democrat
(360) 786-7898
Jamila.Taylor@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sharon Wylie
Democrat
(360) 786-7924
sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov




Legislative Bill Information Website: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

Initiative 960 Website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/tax/default.asp