Senate Joint Resolution No. 10–Senators Shaffer, Amodei, O’Donnell and Washington

 

March 15, 2001

____________

 

Referred to Committee on Transportation

 

SUMMARY—Urges Congress to require implementation of certain safety precautions if Federal Government locates repository for storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in Nevada. (BDR R‑1247)

 

FISCAL NOTE:            Effect on Local Government: No.

                     Effect on the State: No.

 

~

 

EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Senate Joint RESOLUTION—Urging Congress to require the implementation of certain safety precautions if the Federal Government locates a repository for the storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in Nevada.

 

1-1    Whereas, Pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as

1-2  amended by Congress in 1987, the Federal Government is considering a

1-3  site in Nevada for the location of a geologic repository for the storage of

1-4  high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and

1-5    Whereas, If such a repository is ultimately located in Nevada, at least

1-6  77,000 metric tons of hazardous radioactive materials would be transported

1-7  through and stored for not less than 10,000 years in this state; and

1-8    Whereas, Such transportation and storage of those deadly radioactive

1-9  substances in Nevada would create a substantial risk of their emission into

1-10  the air, soil and ground water of this state and pose a serious long-term

1-11  threat to the health of the residents of this state and the welfare of its

1-12  economy; and

1-13    Whereas, The extremely hazardous and long-lived nature of those

1-14  substances make it necessary to ensure that any procedures, facilities and

1-15  equipment that may be used for their transportation and storage meet

1-16  highly stringent, continuing standards for containment and safety; and

1-17    Whereas, If the Federal Government ultimately locates a repository for

1-18  the storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in

1-19  Nevada, Congress should at the very least ensure that certain safety

1-20  precautions are carried out to protect the residents and environment of this

1-21  state from radiological contamination and allow appropriate public and

1-22  state governmental review of the operation of the repository; now,

1-23  therefore, be it

2-1    Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada,

2-2  Jointly, That the members of the 71st session of the Nevada Legislature

2-3  do hereby urge the Congress of the United States, if the Federal

2-4  Government locates a repository for the storage of high-level radioactive

2-5  waste and spent nuclear fuel in the State of Nevada, to take such actions as

2-6  are necessary to ensure that:

2-7    1.  Each container used for the storage of high-level radioactive waste

2-8  or spent nuclear fuel at or in the repository is placed in a manner that

2-9  allows for the safe retrieval of the container for maintenance;

2-10    2.  A facility is located contiguous to the repository which is capable of

2-11  safely retrieving, repairing and replacing those containers;

2-12    3.  The repository contains a system for monitoring those containers

2-13  which:

2-14    (a) Provides for the continuous monitoring of every exterior surface of

2-15  every container; and

2-16    (b) Allows any member of the general public to view at any time each

2-17  monitoring device and container through a website on the Internet;

2-18    4.  Representatives of appropriate agencies of this state have complete

2-19  and unrestricted access to all locations and records necessary to confirm

2-20  the safety of the repository;

2-21    5.  No member of the general public receives, as a result of the

2-22  management and storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear

2-23  fuel inside and outside of the repository and all of its associated facilities,

2-24  any exposure to radionuclides in excess of:

2-25    (a) Four millirems per year to the whole body or any single organ

2-26  through the normal consumption and other use of any ground water; or

2-27    (b) An annual committed effective dose equivalent of 15 millirems; and

2-28    6.  No high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel is transported

2-29  to the repository through any area which is located within 10 miles of any

2-30  city or unincorporated town in this state whose population is 3,000 or

2-31  more; and be it further

2-32    Resolved, That it is the intention of the Nevada Legislature that this

2-33  resolution must not be construed in such a manner as to indicate that the

2-34  Nevada Legislature or the State of Nevada explicitly or impliedly consents

2-35  to the location of a repository for the storage of high-level radioactive

2-36  waste and spent nuclear fuel anywhere in the State of Nevada; and be it

2-37  further

2-38    Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

2-39  of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States as the presiding

2-40  officer of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and each

2-41  member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further

2-42    Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage.

 

2-43  H