Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 1461-A – Disapproval of high-level radioactive waste repository
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1. Disapproval. The State has received notice that the United States Department of Energy, in accordance with the United States Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, Public Law 97-425, is considering 2 sites within the State of Maine as potentially acceptable sites for location of a high-level radioactive waste repository and has considered at least 3 other sites within Maine for this purpose. The Legislature finds:
A. That, based on all available technical information, the geology at these sites is not suitable for a high-level radioactive waste repository; [PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).]
B. That exploration for, construction or operation of such a repository at these sites is contrary to the economic well-being of the people of this State; and [PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).]
C. That the location of such a repository at these sites is contrary to the safety and health of the people of the State of Maine and would substantially interfere with the power and ability of the State to govern its citizens and provide for their health, safety and welfare. [PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).]
For each of these reasons, the State of Maine expressly disapproves the further exploration for, construction or operation of a high-level radioactive waste repository at any of these sites.
[PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 1461-A
- High-level radioactive waste: means the highly radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material derived from that liquid waste that contains fission products in sufficient concentrations; and other highly radioactive material that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule to require permanent isolation. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 1451
- Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
- repository: means any system licensed by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission that is intended to be used for, or may be used for, the permanent deep geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, whether or not the system is designed to permit the recovery, for a limited period during initial operation, of any materials placed in the system. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 38 Sec. 1451
- United States: includes territories and the District of Columbia. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72
2. Review by State. If the Federal Government, or any person acting under its direction, in spite of the State’s disapproval as provided in subsection 1, proceeds with further efforts to investigate the siting, construction or operation of a high-level radioactive waste repository within the State of Maine, the provisions of sections 1463 to 1466 apply to the extent necessary to allow the State to monitor, review and regulate such activities in order to minimize the adverse effects on the health, safety and economic well-being of the people of this State arising from these activities.
[PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 802, §7 (NEW).