HBA-SEP H.B. 2904 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2904
By: Burnam
Environmental Regulation
3/29/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law does not require a low-level radioactive waste disposal site to
be located near a nuclear power plant.  However, the potential for
accidents due to transporting low-level radioactive waste may be diminished
if the waste did not have to travel far distances.  House Bill 2904
requires the board of directors of the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste
Disposal Authority, in choosing potential disposal sites for further
analysis, to give preference to sites located at or near nuclear power
plants. 

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 2904 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove provisions
limiting the low-level radioactive waste disposal site location to Hudspeth
County. The bill also requires the board of directors of the Texas
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority, in choosing potential
disposal sites for further analysis, to give preference to sites located at
or near nuclear power plants. 
A disposal site must include aboveground isolation facilities for managing
low-level radioactive waste pending disposal.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.