HBA-SEP H.B. 2370 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2370
By: Burnam
Environmental Regulation
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Low-level radioactive waste has been disposed of in unlined shallow
landfills since the 1940's and in that time, all six commercial burial
sites in the U.S. have leaked causing irreversible damage.  Replacing
belowground disposal of low-level radioactive waste with an aboveground
monitored retrievable storage facility may help prevent leaks from
occurring and allow for repair.  House Bill 2370 removes exceptions to the
prohibition of disposing low-level radioactive waste in a landfill below
the natural level of a disposal site. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2370 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove exceptions to
the prohibition of disposing low-level radioactive waste in a landfill
below the natural level of a disposal site.  The bill repeals provisions
regarding techniques for managing low-level radioactive waste.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.