02/05/1997 01:38 PM Senate JUD

       SB  39 HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS, MATERIALS, AND WASTE                       
                                                                              
  SENATOR PARNELL  moved to adopt the draft committee substitute for           
 SB 39 (0-LS0214\B) as CSSB 39(JUD).  There being no objection, the            
 motion carried.                                                               
                                                                               
  ANNETTE KREITZER,  staff to Senator Leman, sponsor of SB 39,                 
 explained four technical changes made in the committee substitute.            
 In response to two concerns raised during the previous hearing, she           
 clarified the purpose of SB 39 is to ensure that businesses                   
 required to report hazardous substances, chemicals and waste can do           
 so as simply as possible.  The requirement to report consumer                 
 commodities of a hzardous material in a quantity of more than 1,000           
 pounds was aimed at large stores such as K-Mart and COSTCO.  Local            
 fire departments know what materials are in those stores, therefore           
 an additional placard is unnecessary.  The definition of "hazardous           
 chemical" on page 4 lines 16-17, is taken from the OSHA definition            
 (29 C.F.R. 1910.1200(c).  The exceptions, listed on lines 18-30,              
 are derived from 40 C.F.R. 370.2 (Emergency Planning and Community            
 Right-to-Know Act).  SB 39 makes no changes to existing federal               
 law, it further codifies it.                                                  
                                                                               
  SENATOR PARNELL  asked Ms. Kreitzer to respond to the concern about          
 the compressed gas requirement that was raised during the previous            
 hearing.   MS. KREITZER  explained this issue was discussed in the            
 Senate Resources Committee at length last session.  SB 39 removes             
 two provisions from statute that are not required by federal law.             
 Those provisions read:                                                        
  Page 4, lines 15-16: (2) [A CONSUMER COMMODITY OF A HAZARDOUS                
 MATERIAL IN A QUANTITY OF MORE THAN 1,000 POUNDS]                             
  and lines 24-25: (7) [COMPRESSED GASSES EQUAL TO OR MORE THAN                
 200 CUBIC FEET AT STANDARD TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE].                         
                                                                               
 She noted the goal of SB 39 is to require one reporting form that             
 will satisfy the reporting requirements for the Municipality of               
 Anchorage, the Emergency Response Commission, and the federal                 
 requirements for MSDS sheets.                                                 
                                                                               
  SENATOR PARNELL  asked if the reporting requirement for compressed           
 gasses is still mandated by the Municipality of Anchorage.   MS.              
 KREITZER  stated it is, and added this discussion began with SB 33,           
 which was enacted several years ago.  The discussions have been               
 ongoing, with the goal of streamlining reporting requirements so              
 that an electronic format can be used.                                        
                                                                               
 There being no further testimony or discussion,  SENATOR MILLER               
 moved CSSB 39(JUD) out of committee with individual                           
 recommendations.  There being no objection to the motion, it was so           
 ordered.