Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H2302 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 256 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2302
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Josh S. Cutler and Sarah K. Peake
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to the discharge of spent fuel pool water.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth1/10/2023Sarah K. Peake4th Barnstable1/18/2023Kathleen R. LaNatra12th Plymouth1/24/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol2/2/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/7/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/9/2023Mathew J. Muratore1st Plymouth2/15/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/27/2023Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin3/2/2023Dylan A. FernandesBarnstable, Dukes and Nantucket3/8/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester3/14/2023 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 256 FILED ON: 1/11/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2302
18	18	By Representatives Cutler of Pembroke and Peake of Provincetown, a petition (accompanied by
19	19	bill, House, No. 2302) of Josh S. Cutler, Sarah K. Peake and others for an investigation by a
20	20	special commission (including members of the General Court) to examine the potential negative
21	21	environmental and economic impacts caused by the discharge of spent fuel pool water created as
22	22	a waste product of nuclear energy. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
23	23	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
24	24	_______________
25	25	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
26	26	(2023-2024)
27	27	_______________
28	28	An Act relative to the discharge of spent fuel pool water.
29	29	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
30	30	of the same, as follows:
31	31	1 SECTION 1. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, there shall
32	32	2be a special commission to examine the potential negative environmental and economic impacts
33	33	3caused by the discharge of spent fuel pool water, any materials created as a waste product of
34	34	4nuclear energy from spent fuel pools, including, but not limited to, processed water or any other
35	35	5liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity, including, but not limited to, tritium or boron,
36	36	6associated with the decommissioning of any nuclear power plant, into the waters of the
37	37	7commonwealth. Waters of the commonwealth shall include all waters under the jurisdiction of
38	38	8the division of marine fisheries, including, but not limited to, bays, coastal waters, canals, rivers
39	39	9and streams.
40	40	10 (b) The commission shall consist of the following 13 members: the attorney general or a
41	41	11designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the governor or a designee; the secretary of the executive 2 of 3
42	42	12office of energy and environmental affairs or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the senate
43	43	13president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; the senate
44	44	14minority leader or a designee; the house of representatives minority leader or a designee; the
45	45	15chairs of the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture or their
46	46	16designees; the commissioner of the department of environmental protection or a designee; the
47	47	17commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; the executive director of the
48	48	18office of travel and tourism or a designee; and the director of the division of marine fisheries or a
49	49	19designee.
50	50	20 (c) The commission shall: (i) examine and investigate the potential environmental and
51	51	21economic impacts, including impacts to consumer perception of the discharge spent fuel
52	52	22wastewater on the fishing, aquaculture, tourism, restaurant industries and other sectors deemed
53	53	23appropriate by the commission; and (ii) make recommendations on measures to mitigate or avoid
54	54	24potential negative impacts on such industries.
55	55	25 (d) The commission shall hold not less than 4 listening sessions, with not less than 1
56	56	26listening session in the following counties: Dukes, Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable; provided,
57	57	27however, that upon the completion of its report under this section, the commission shall provide
58	58	28a public presentation in said counties. Not later than November 1, 2024 the commission shall file
59	59	29a report on the results of its study with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate,
60	60	30the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture, the joint committee on
61	61	31public health, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, the joint committee
62	62	32on economic development and emerging technologies and the senate and house committees on
63	63	33ways and means. 3 of 3
64	64	34 (e) There shall be no discharge of spent fuel pool water, any materials created as a waste
65	65	35product of nuclear energy from spent fuel pools, including, but not limited to, processed water or
66	66	36any other liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity, including, but not limited to, tritium or
67	67	37boron into the waters of the commonwealth until 90 days after the issuance of the commission’s
68	68	38report.