BILL NUMBER: SB 422INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Wright FEBRUARY 16, 2011 An act to amend Section 25511 of the Public Resources Code, relating to energy. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 422, as introduced, Wright. Energy: nuclear fission thermal powerplant: seismic safety. Existing law requires the commission to review factors related to safety and reliability of a proposed thermal powerplant facility at a site, including seismic hazards at the site. This bill would provide that a determination by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that a site and related facility of a nuclear fission thermal powerplant meets the seismic safety standards established by the NRC on or before January 1, 2012, is conclusive and binding on the commission as to its determination of whether the site and related facility are seismically safe. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 25511 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read: 25511. (a) The commission shall review the factors related to safety and reliability of the facilities at each of the alternative sites designated in the notice. In addition to other information requested of the applicant, the commission shall, in determining the appropriateness of sites and related facilities, require detailed information on proposed emergency systems and safety precautions, plans for transport, handling and storage of wastes and fuels, proposed methods to prevent illegal diversion of nuclear fuels, special design features to account for seismic and other potential hazards, proposed methods to control density of population in areas surrounding nuclear powerplants, and such other information as the commission may determine to be relevant to the reliability and safety of the facility at the proposed sites. The commission shall analyze the information provided by the applicant, supplementing it, where necessary, by onsite investigations and other studies. The commission shall determine the adequacy of measures proposed by the applicant to protect public health and safety, and shall include its findings in the final report required by Section 25514. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), for the purposes of licensing and certification of a new nuclear fission thermal powerplant or for a relicensing of an existing nuclear fission thermal powerplant, a determination by the United States Regulatory Commission that a site and related facility meets the seismic safety standards established on or before January 1, 2012, by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for licensing or relicensing of a nuclear fission thermal powerplant shall be conclusive and binding on the commission as to its determination of whether the site and related facility are seismically safe.