Markey, Boxer, Sanders introduce three new nuclear safety bills [View all]

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http://plymouth.wickedlocal.com/article/20140513/NEWS/140518750

Three senators introduce three new nuclear safety bills

Three bills introduced in the Senate today could expedite transfers of spent fuels to dry cask storage, expand emergency planning zones, maintain security zones, and allow communities a greater say in how nuclear power plants are decommissioned.

Posted May. 13, 2014 @ 1:23 pm
Updated May 15, 2014 at 5:49 AM

WASHINGTON D.C. – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced three bills this week that may improve the safety and security of decommissioned reactors and the storage of spent nuclear fuel at nuclear plants across the nation.

The Dry Cask Storage Act of 2014 (Markey, Boxer, Sanders) would ensure that every nuclear reactor operator complies with an NRC-approved plan that would require the safe removal of spent nuclear fuel from the spent fuel pools and place that spent fuel into dry cask storage within 7 years of the time the plan is submitted to the NRC. The legislation also provides funding to help reactor licensees implement the plans and expands the emergency planning zone for non-compliant reactor operators to 50 miles.

Safe and Secure Decommissioning Act of 2014 (Boxer, Sanders, Markey) would prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing exemptions from its emergency response or security requirements for spent fuel stored at nuclear reactors that have permanently shut down until all of the spent nuclear fuel stored at the site has been moved into dry casks, which are a more secure and safe option for storage. NRC has determined that earthquakes would be the most likely cause of a spent fuel pool failure that could result in a spontaneous fire, the release of large quantities of radiation, and widespread contamination, but has granted every request from emergency response requirements that it has ever received from a licensee of a decommissioning reactor.

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014 (Sanders, Boxer, Markey) would ensure that states and local communities have a meaningful role in the crafting and preparation of decommissioning plans for retired nuclear plants located in those areas. The bill also requires NRC to publicly and transparently approve or reject every proposed decommissioning plan, which it currently is not required to do.

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