Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S540 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1444 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 540
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Dylan A. Fernandes
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
12	12	resolve:
13	13	Resolve preventing the discharge of radioactive materials.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Dylan A. FernandesPlymouth and Barnstable 1 of 2
17	17	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1444 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
18	18	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 540
19	19	By Mr. Fernandes, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 540) of Dylan A. Fernandes
20	20	that provisions be made to examine and report on the potential negative environmental and
21	21	economic impacts of radioactive materials. Emergency Preparedness and Management.
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	Resolve preventing the discharge of radioactive materials.
28	28	1 Resolved, (a) The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in consultation
29	29	2with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health shall examine and report on the potential
30	30	3negative environmental and economic impacts caused by the discharge of spent fuel pool water,
31	31	4including discharge by any means or methods that increase the rate of evaporation, of any
32	32	5materials created as a waste product of nuclear energy from spent fuel pools, including, but not
33	33	6limited to, processed water or any other liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity, including,
34	34	7but not limited to, tritium or boron, associated with the decommissioning of the nuclear power
35	35	8plant.
36	36	9 (b) In creating its report, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in
37	37	10consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health: (i) shall examine and
38	38	11investigate the potential environmental and economic impacts of said discharge, including
39	39	12discharge by any means or methods that increase the rate of evaporation; (ii) shall analyze the
40	40	13impacts to consumer perception of the discharge of spent fuel wastewater on the fishing,
41	41	14aquaculture, tourism, restaurant industries and other sectors deemed appropriate by the 2 of 2
42	42	15commission; (iii) shall undertake regular monitoring of the land, air, and water to determine the
43	43	16pollution levels created by said discharge, including discharge by any means or methods that
44	44	17increase the rate of evaporation; and (iv) shall make recommendations on measures to mitigate or
45	45	18avoid potential negative impacts on such industries.
46	46	19 (c) There shall be no discharge, including discharge by any means or methods that
47	47	20increase the rate of evaporation, of spent fuel pool water, any materials created as a waste
48	48	21product of nuclear energy from spent fuel pools, including, but not limited to, processed water or
49	49	22any other liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity, including, but not limited to, tritium or
50	50	23boron into the waters of the commonwealth until 90 days after the Massachusetts Department of
51	51	24Environmental Protection in consultation with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
52	52	25issues its report.