Amendment #4 to H4377

Commission to Decommission

Ms. Peake of Provincetown moves to amend the bill by inserting the following new section:

SECTION XX. (a) There shall be a Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station decommissioning advisory panel. The advisory panel shall ensure best practices, engage citizens and advise state and local officials and residents on matters related to the decommissioning and postclosure activities of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The advisory panel shall be convened not later than July 1, 2017 or the date a written certificate of permanent cessation of operations at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, whichever is earlier.

The advisory panel shall consist of the following members: the attorney general or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member of the senate; 1 member of the house of representatives; the commissioner of public health or a designee; the commissioner of environmental protection or a designee; the chair of the department of public utilities or a designee; the director of the Massachusetts emergency management agency or a designee; the executive director of the Old Colony Planning Council or a designee; the executive director of the Cape Cod commission or a designee; 1 person appointed by the board of selectmen in the town of Plymouth; 1 person appointed by Entergy Nuclear Generation Company; the president of the Utility Workers Union-America local 369 or a designee; 2 persons who shall be members of the public, 1 to be appointed by the president of the senate and 1 to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate, 1 of whom shall reside within the emergency planning zone surrounding Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, but not in the town of Plymouth; 2 persons who shall be members of the public, 1 to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 to be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, 1 of whom shall reside within the emergency planning zone surrounding Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, but not in the town of Plymouth; 2 members of the public to be appointed by the governor, at least 1 of whom shall reside in Barnstable county; and 1 person with expertise in decommissioning and post-closure activities appointed by the attorney general. The advisory panel shall invite the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to appoint a designee, who may serve ex officio. Vacancies on the advisory panel shall be filled by the appointing authority.

(b) The advisory panel shall: (i) hold annual public meetings to discuss issues relating to post closure activities; (ii) advise the governor, the general court, executive agencies and the public on issues related to postclosure activities; (iii) serve as a conduit for public information and education and encouraging community involvement in matters related to postclosure activities; (iv) receive reports on the Decommissioning Trust Fund as defined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other funds associated with post closure activities, including fund balances, expenditures made and reimbursements received; (v) receive reports regarding postclosure activities, including site assessments and postclosure decommissioning reports, providing a forum for receiving public comment on assessments and reports and providing comment on these assessments and reports as the advisory panel deems appropriate to state agencies, interested stakeholders and the owner of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station; (vi) post all documents related to decommissioning and postclosure activities promptly on a publicly accessible website; and (v) file a report annually with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives who shall forward the report to the governor and to the chairs of the joint committee on telecommunication, utilities and energy.

The advisory panel shall cease operations when the site is released to the public for unrestricted use or upon a majority vote of the members of the advisory panel that the advisory panel has served its purpose and its continued existence is no longer necessary.