Amendment #17 to H57

Water Discharge Commission

Mr. Cutler of Pembroke moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:-

"SECTION X. (a) Notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to examine the potential negative environmental and economic impacts caused by the discharge of spent fuel pool water, 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 any nuclear power plant, into the waters of the commonwealth. Waters of the commonwealth shall include all waters under the jurisdiction of the division of marine fisheries, including, but not limited to, bays, coastal waters, canals, rivers and streams.

(b) The commission shall consist of the following 13 members: the attorney general or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the governor or a designee; the secretary of the executive office of energy and environmental affairs or a designee, who shall serve as co-chair; the senate president or a designee; the speaker of the house of representatives or a designee; the senate minority leader or a designee; the house of representatives minority leader or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on the environment, natural resources and agriculture or their designees; the commissioner of the department of environmental protection or a designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; the executive director of the office of travel and tourism or a designee; and the director of the division of marine fisheries or a designee.

(c) The commission shall: (i) examine and investigate the potential environmental and economic impacts, including impacts to consumer perception of the discharge spent fuel wastewater on the fishing, aquaculture, tourism, restaurant industries and other sectors deemed appropriate by the commission; and (ii) make recommendations on measures to mitigate or avoid potential negative impacts on such industries.

(d) The commission shall hold not less than 4 listening sessions, with not less than 1 listening session in the following counties: Dukes, Plymouth, Bristol and Barnstable; provided, however, that upon the completion of its report under this section, the commission shall provide a public presentation in said counties. Not later than November 1, 2024 the commission shall file a report on the results of its study with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, the joint committee on environment, natural resources and agriculture, the joint committee on public health, the joint committee on tourism, arts and cultural development, the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies and the senate and house committees on ways and means.

(e) There shall be no discharge of spent fuel pool water, 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 issuance of the commission’s report."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #17 to H57

Water Discharge Commission