SENATE BILL 54

55th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2022

INTRODUCED BY

Jeff Steinborn

AN ACT

RELATING TO RADIOACTIVE WASTE; AMENDING THE RADIOACTIVE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACT; PROHIBITING THE STORAGE OR DISPOSAL OF SPENT FUEL AND HIGH-LEVEL WASTE; AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF "DISPOSAL FACILITY"; AMENDING THE DUTIES AND COMPOSITION OF THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE CONSULTATION TASK FORCE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 74-4A-6 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 380, Section 5, as amended by Laws 2001, Chapter 12, Section 1 and also by Laws 2001, Chapter 103, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "74-4A-6. TASK FORCE.--There is created the "radioactive waste consultation task force". The task force shall consist of the secretaries of energy, minerals and natural resources; health; environment; public safety; [and highway and] transportation; homeland security and emergency management; and Indian affairs or their designees and the commissioner of public lands or the commissioner's designee. The [chairman] chair and vice [chairman] chair of the committee, or their designees from the committee, shall be advisory members of the task force. The state fire marshal or [his] the state fire marshal's designee shall serve as a [non-voting] nonvoting member of the task force."

     SECTION 2. Section 74-4A-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1979, Chapter 380, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "74-4A-7. DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE.--

          A. The task force shall negotiate for the state with the federal government in all areas relating to siting, licensing and operation of new federal disposal facilities, including research, development and demonstration, for high-level radioactive wastes, transuranic radioactive wastes and low-level radioactive waste. This subsection shall not be construed to limit the powers of any agency otherwise authorized to negotiate with the federal government, and if such negotiation should also come within the authority of the task force, the task force shall provide assistance to that agency but shall not limit the agency's exercise of authority. Any action taken pursuant to this subsection may be disapproved by joint resolution of the legislature.

          B. The task force may recommend legislation to implement the state's policies with respect to new federal disposal facilities.

          C. The task force shall identify impacts of new federal and private disposal facilities within the state and shall disseminate that information.

          D. The task force shall coordinate the investigations and studies undertaken by all state agencies and shall forward an executive summary of ongoing and recently completed investigations and studies, including information from federal or other studies, to the legislature and the governor as the studies are completed or information released.

          E. The task force shall meet [regularly] at least annually with the committee and keep the committee apprised of all actions taken by the task force."

     SECTION 3. Section 74-4A-11.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1981, Chapter 374, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "74-4A-11.1. CONDITION.--No person shall store or dispose of radioactive materials or radioactive waste [or spent fuel] in a disposal facility until the state has concurred in the creation of the disposal facility, except as specifically preempted by federal law; provided that spent fuel and high-level waste shall not be stored or disposed of in the state; and provided further that the state or a political subdivision of the state shall not issue or certify a permit for the construction or operation of a disposal facility for spent fuel or high-level waste. As used in this section, "disposal facility" means an engineered surface, subsurface or underground facility designed primarily for the temporary or permanent isolation of radioactive materials, radioactive waste or spent fuel other than tailings or other waste from the extraction, beneficiation or processing of ores and minerals."

     SECTION 4. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

- 4 -