HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3803        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4040

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michelle L. Badger and Hadley Luddy

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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 preventing the discharge of radioactive materials.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3803        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4040

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act preventing the discharge of radioactive materials.

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

(a) The department of environmental protection in consultation with the department of public health shall study, examine and report on the potential environmental and economic impacts caused by the discharge of spent fuel pool water, including discharge by any means or methods that increases the rate of evaporation of any materials created as a waste product of nuclear energy from spent fuel pools including, but not limited to, processed water or any other liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity including, but not limited to, tritium or boron associated with the decommissioning of the any nuclear power plant.

(b) The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) examining and investigating the potential environmental and economic impacts of discharge, including discharge by any means or methods that increases the rate of evaporation; (ii) analyzing the impacts to consumer perception of the discharge of spent fuel wastewater on the fishing, aquaculture, tourism, restaurant industries and other sectors deemed appropriate by the department of environmental protection in consultation with the department of public health; (iii) undertaking regular monitoring of the land, air and water to determine the pollution levels created by discharge, including discharge by any means or methods that increase the rate of evaporation; and (iv) making recommendations on measures to mitigate or avoid potential negative impacts on such industries.

(c) The department of environmental protection pursuant to section 16K of chapter 132A of the General Laws, in consultation with the office of coastal zone management, shall not allow the discharge of spent fuel pool water, including discharge by: (i) any means or methods that increase the rate of evaporation of spent fuel pool water; or (ii) any materials created as a waste product of nuclear energy from spent fuel pools including, but not limited to, processed water or any other liquid with elevated levels of radioactivity including, but not limited to, tritium or boron into the waters of the commonwealth until 90 days after the department of environmental protection in consultation with the department of public health issues its report.

(d) The department of environmental protection shall submit a report detailing the results of the study, along with recommendations and any proposed standards and legislation necessary to carry out its recommendations, to the: (i) the joint committee on public health; (ii) the joint committee on environmental and natural resources; and (iii) clerks of the house of representatives and senate not later than December 31, 2026.