HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1604        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2324

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Ann-Margaret Ferrante

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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 emergency planning.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1604        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2324

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2459 OF 2021-2022.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to emergency planning.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. In order to assess the present preparedness in Barnstable and Essex Counties and to determine the need for, and appropriateness of, any additional specific steps for a radiological accident at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency shall report to the Governor and the Legislature by January first, two thousand twenty, its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation and assessments where appropriate concerning: 

1. The need for and appropriateness of additional specific state and local activities or programs beyond those required by the accepted radiological emergency preparedness plans or provided for under existing law, including but not limited to:

a)Plume transport and dose assessment models;

b)Radiological and meteorological monitoring equipment; 

c)Emergency Notification, Methods and Procedures;

d)Emergency Communications;

e)Public Information and Education;

f)Emergency Facilities and Equipment;

g)Accident Assessment; 

h)Protective Response, Sheltering: Assessment of Shelters in Barnstable County suitable in a radiological emergency;

i)Protective Response, Evacuation: Evacuation Routes, Evacuation Time Estimates, Traffic Control, Impediment Removal, Security Patrols, Reception Centers, monitoring and decontamination capability, Mass Care Shelters, Ingestion Exposure pathway Protective Measures;

j)Transportation for transportation dependent;

k)Medical and Public Health Support; 

l)Relocation, Re-Entry, and Return Planning and Post Accident Operations;

m)Exercises and Drills;

n)Radiological Emergency Response Training;

o)Responsibility for Planning Effort: development, Periodic review and Distribution of Emergency Plans; and

p)           Maps with prevailing wind speeds around the compass rose.

SECTION 2. Any such recommendations shall be developed in consultation with all concerned public and private parties and shall: 

(a)Take into account proven safety effectiveness; 

(b)Outline any proposed costs and the means for meeting such costs; 

(c)Consider related activities of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or others; and 

(d)When appropriate, discuss alternatives and various implementation stages.

SECTION 3. If at any time following the development, review or approval of state and local radiological plans, the Governor determines that said plans are no longer adequate to protect the public health and safety, he/she shall notify the Federal Emergency Management Agency to secure withdrawal of the plans and call on Nuclear Regulatory Commission to revoke the operating license and begin the decommissioning process.