71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
 LC 2088
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                     House Joint Memorial 5
                  Ordered by the House April 16
            Including House Amendments dated April 16
 
Sponsored by Representatives JENSON, MERKLEY, SIMMONS, Senator
  FERRIOLI; Representative G SMITH, Senator NELSON
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
  Urges Congress to fund cleanup of Hanford Nuclear Reservation
and expedite other Columbia River cleanup efforts.
 
                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States
  of America, in Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-first Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas radioactive and chemical wastes stored at the Hanford
Nuclear Reservation pose a significant threat to the Columbia
River and to the health and welfare of Oregonians; and
  Whereas the environmental cleanup of the Hanford Nuclear
Reservation is a top priority for Oregonians; and
  Whereas significant progress toward the cleanup and safe
storage of radioactive and chemical wastes has occurred at the
Hanford Site through the use of the 'pump and treat' technology,
the removal of spent fuel rods from certain basins nearby the
Columbia River and the opening of the Environmental Restoration
Disposal Facility; and
  Whereas existing storage facilities are susceptible to leakage
because of original design and age of the facilities; and
  Whereas many of the storage facilities are beyond their
designed lifespan; and
  Whereas the United States Department of Energy is developing a
treatment process known as vitrification that would place
radioactive and chemical wastes in a stable form; and
  Whereas development of the vitrification process and
construction of a vitrification plant must be a top priority and
must not delay other cleanup and waste management projects; and
  Whereas the State of Oregon has no legal authority under the
Hanford Tri-party Agreement to affect decisions by the United
States Department of Energy regarding waste management at the
Hanford Nuclear Reservation; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Congress of the United States is respectfully urged to:
  (a) Fund the cleanup effort at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation,
including the construction of a vitrification plant and other
existing cleanup and waste management efforts, to the extent
necessary to ensure the safety and health of the citizens of
Oregon.
  (b) Expedite cleanup of sites located near the Columbia River
that may threaten the Columbia River, the species that rely on
the river or the people who live downstream.
  (c) Accelerate cleanup efforts that will maximize financial
resources by reducing long-term management costs.
  (d) Work closely with Pacific Northwest officials to ensure
success of cleanup and waste management efforts.
  (e) Provide the State of Oregon with a decision-making role in
matters affecting the handling, storing and cleanup of
radioactive and chemical wastes at the Hanford Nuclear
Reservation, including a role in the Hanford Tri-party Agreement
or any successor thereto.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to each member of the
Oregon Congressional Delegation and the Washington Congressional
Delegation, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of
Energy and the Administrator of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency.
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