Senate Bill No. 206–Senators Amodei, James, Carlton,
Titus, Wiener and Mathews

February 17, 1999

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Joint Sponsors: Assemblymen Dini and Cegavske

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Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities

 

SUMMARY—States legislative intent and requires certain activities relating to placement of repository for nuclear waste in Nevada. (BDR S-1029)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: Yes.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to repositories for nuclear waste; stating the intention of the Nevada Legislature to submit a notice of disapproval to the Congress of the United States if the placement of such a repository at Yucca Mountain is recommended; requiring the Agency for Nuclear Projects and the Office of the Attorney General to take certain actions to oppose the placement of such a repository in this state; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

Whereas, The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended,

authorizes the Governor or Legislature of the State of Nevada to submit to

the Congress of the United States a notice of disapproval of a

recommendation by the President of the United States to place a repository

for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at

Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and requires such a notice to be accompanied by

a statement of reasons explaining the disapproval; and

Whereas, Pursuant to the current schedule of the Federal Government,

such a recommendation, if made, would occur in 2001; and

Whereas, The Agency for Nuclear Projects, which was created in this

state in 1985, has obtained compelling evidence that Yucca Mountain is not

a suitable location for the placement of such a repository and, pursuant to

the guidelines developed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 10132 for the selection of

a suitable location, does not qualify for the placement of such a repository;

and

Whereas, The technical data obtained by the Agency for Nuclear

Projects indicates that the placement of such a repository at Yucca

Mountain would preclude the licensing of the repository by the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission, as required by federal law, and create substantial

and unacceptable risks to the public health and safety and to the

environment and economy of this state; now, therefore,

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

2-1 Section 1. It is the intention of the Nevada Legislature to ensure that,

2-2 if the President of the United States recommends the placement of a

2-3 repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear

2-4 fuel at Yucca Mountain, a notice of disapproval of that recommendation is

2-5 submitted to the Congress of the United States in accordance with the

2-6 Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended.

2-7 Sec. 2. The Agency for Nuclear Projects shall:

2-8 1. Carry out such activities and obtain such information as is necessary

2-9 to prepare a statement of reasons explaining the disapproval of Yucca

2-10 Mountain as a location for the placement of a repository for the disposal of

2-11 high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

2-12 2. Establish and carry out a program for the national dissemination of

2-13 information to inform residents of other states regarding:

2-14 (a) The unsuitability of Yucca Mountain as a location for the placement

2-15 of a repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent

2-16 nuclear fuel; and

2-17 (b) The potential risks and consequences of the transportation of high-

2-18 level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to Yucca Mountain.

2-19 Sec. 3. The Office of the Attorney General shall develop appropriate

2-20 legal strategies to:

2-21 1. Challenge any decision by the Federal Government to place a

2-22 repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear

2-23 fuel in Nevada.

2-24 2. Oppose the federal licensing of a repository for the disposal of high-

2-25 level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in Nevada.

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