Bill > H4728

This bill modifies Chapter 111 of Massachusetts General Laws to enhance monitoring and oversight of spent nuclear fuel storage, specifically focusing on dry casks at nuclear power facilities that previously generated electricity for retail customers in the state. The bill requires facility owners and operators to provide continuous, real-time reporting to the Department of Public Health's radiation control division about the temperature, helium release rate, and radiation levels of each dry cask storage unit. Additionally, the bill mandates that nuclear power plant licensees fully fund offsite radiological emergency response expenses for the Commonwealth and its municipalities from plant closure until all spent fuel is removed from spent fuel pools and placed in dry casks, with the explicit stipulation that these expenses cannot be paid from Decommissioning Trust Funds. The Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Attorney General's office, is tasked with developing and implementing the specific reporting regulations. This legislation aims to enhance public safety and transparency by providing ongoing monitoring of spent nuclear fuel storage conditions and ensuring that emergency response costs are appropriately covered by the nuclear facility licensees.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Public Health (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4728