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