HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2001

CHAPTER 714

(House Bill 336)

AN ACT concerning

Nuclear Waste Material — Storage

FOR the purpose of increasing the duration    of the variance

time that the Secretary of Health and      Mental Hygiene

may grant for temporary storage of      nuclear waste

material; and postponing the expiration    date for this
authority.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 43 - Health

Section 689B(b)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1971 Replacement Volume and 1978 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 43 - Health

689B.

(b) It is unlawful to establish any permanent storage
facility, burial ground or other installation for the
long—term storing of waste nuclear materials or their
by-products while awaiting radioactive decay, within the
State. This subsection does not prohibit temporary storage
of used nuclear plant fuel as necessary incident to its

subsequent shipment out of the State except that temporary

storage shall not exceed two years. The Secretary may grant

a variance from the two year time limitation if he

determines that the variance is necessary and in the public

interest. However, the variance may not exceed a period of

[1 year] 3 YEARS after the 2-year limitation has become

effective. The Secretary's authority as to this variance

shall expire on [June 30, 1979] JUNE 30, 1981 UNTIL JUNE 30,
1980, IF THE SECRETARY DETERMINES THAT THE STORAGE IS:

NECESSARY AND IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

(1) NECESSARY;

(2) IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST;

(3) UNLIKELY TO CRUSE ANY RISK OF LEAKAGE OR

RELEASE OF RADIATION WHICH IS HARMFUL TO THE HEALTH OF THE

PUBLIC AS DETERMINED BY ALL SCIENTIFIC ___TESTS___ACCEPTED AS

RELIABLE BY THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION;

AND