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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 551, 1440                PRINTER'S NO. 1906

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 496 Session of 2007


        INTRODUCED BY GEORGE, MELIO, BENNINGTON, CALTAGIRONE, DeLUCA,
           DePASQUALE, FABRIZIO, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS,
           MANN, MOYER, M. O'BRIEN, PETRONE, PYLE, READSHAW, RUBLEY,
           STABACK, J. TAYLOR, WALKO, WHEATLEY, YUDICHAK, BASTIAN, JAMES
           AND SIPTROTH, FEBRUARY 26, 2007

        AS RE-REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 13, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of July 10, 1984 (P.L.688, No.147), entitled
     2     "An act combining the radiation safety provisions of The
     3     Atomic Energy Development and Radiation Control Act and the
     4     Environmental Radiation Protection Act; empowering the
     5     Department of Environmental Resources to implement a
     6     comprehensive Statewide radiation protection program; further
     7     providing for the power of the Environmental Quality Board
     8     and for the duties of the Environmental Hearing Board;
     9     expanding the authority of the department to regulate other
    10     radiation sources;  providing for radiation emergency
    11     response; establishing requirements for transport of spent
    12     reactor fuel; establishing fees; providing penalties; making
    13     repeals; and authorizing and directing the Department of
    14     Environmental Resources and the Governor to convey ownership
    15     to the Carl A. White Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant,
    16     situated in Washington Township, Indiana County,
    17     Pennsylvania, to the County of Indiana, subject to a right of
    18     reverter for stated conditions," further providing for
    19     definitions, for powers of Environmental Quality Board, for
    20     nuclear facility and transport fees, for creation of special
    21     funds, for response program and for transportation of
    22     radioactive materials; and making repeals.

    23     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    24  hereby enacts as follows:
    25     Section 1.  Sections 103 and 302 of the act of July 10, 1984
    26  (P.L.688, No.147), known as the Radiation Protection Act, are

     1  amended to read:
     2  Section 103.  Definitions.
     3     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
     4  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     5  context clearly indicates otherwise:
     6     "Abatement."  Any action deemed necessary by the department
     7  to protect public health, safety or welfare, or public or
     8  private property, resulting from the use of a radiation source.
     9     "Agency."  The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
    10     "Away-from-reactor spent nuclear fuel storage facility."  A
    11  spent nuclear fuel storage facility located outside the site
    12  boundaries or property lines of a nuclear power reactor licensed
    13  under 10 CFR Pt. 50 (relating to domestic licensing of
    14  production and utilization facilities).
    15     "Council."  The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Council.
    16     "Department."  The Department of Environmental [Resources]
    17  Protection and its authorized representatives.
    18     "Director."  The Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency
    19  Management Agency.
    20     "Electronic product radiation."  Any radiation emitted by
    21  products subject to the Radiation Control for Health and Safety
    22  Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-602, 82 Stat. 1173).
    23     "High-level waste."
    24         (1)  Irradiated reactor fuel;
    25         (2)  highly-radioactive material resulting from the
    26     reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste
    27     produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material
    28     derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products
    29     in sufficient concentrations; or
    30         (3)  other highly radioactive material that the Nuclear
    20070H0496B1906                  - 2 -     

     1     Regulatory Commission, consistent with existing Federal law,
     2     determines by rule requires permanent isolation.
     3     "Large quantity of radioactive material."  A single package
     4  or multiple packages in a single shipment of radioactive
     5  material which exceed any of the following limits:
     6         (1)  1,000 Terabecquerels (TBq) (27,000 curies (Ci));
     7         (2)  3,000 times the A sub1 or A sub2 limits for a
     8     radionuclide listed in Appendix A of 10 CFR Pt. 71 (relating
     9     to packaging and transportation of radioactive material);
    10         (3)  a radioactive material quantity of concern as
    11     defined by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; or
    12         (4)  any radioactive material shipment where State
    13     notification is mandated by Federal law, regulation, order or
    14     other Federal requirement.
    15     "NRC."  The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission or
    16  any predecessor or successor thereto.
    17     "Person."  An individual, corporation, firm, association,
    18  public utility, trust, estate, public or private institution,
    19  group, agency, political subdivision of the Commonwealth, any
    20  other state or political subdivision or agency thereof and any
    21  legal successor, representative, agent or agency of the
    22  foregoing, other than the United States Nuclear Regulatory
    23  Commission or any successor thereto. In any provision of this
    24  act prescribing a fine, imprisonment or penalty, or any
    25  combination of the foregoing, the term "person" shall include
    26  the officers and directors of any corporation or other legal
    27  entity having officers and directors.
    28     ["PSP."  The Pennsylvania State Police.]
    29     "Radiation."  Any ionizing radiation or electronic product
    30  radiation.
    20070H0496B1906                  - 3 -     

     1     "Radiation source."  An apparatus or material, other than a
     2  nuclear power reactor and nuclear fuel located on a plant site,
     3  emitting or capable of emitting radiation.
     4     "Radiation source user."  A person who owns or is responsible
     5  for a radiation source.
     6     "Reactor fuel fabrication facility."  A facility in which
     7  onsite operations include preparation of reactor fuel material
     8  with fissionable material such as uranium or plutonium, reactor
     9  fuel material research and development, formation of fuel
    10  material shapes, application of cladding, recovery of reactor
    11  fuel material or any other reactor fuel material manufacturing
    12  operation.
    13     "Secretary."  The Secretary of Environmental [Resources]
    14  Protection or his or her authorized representative.
    15     "Spent nuclear fuel."  Fuel that has been withdrawn from a
    16  nuclear reactor following irradiation, the constituent elements
    17  of which have not been separated by reprocessing.
    18     "Transuranic waste."  Radioactive waste containing more than
    19  3.7 kilobecquerels (KBq) (100 nanocuries) of alpha-emitting
    20  transuranic isotopes per gram of waste, with half-lives greater
    21  than 20 years, except for high-level waste.
    22  Section 302.  Powers of Environmental Quality Board.
    23     (a)  Powers and duties.--The Environmental Quality Board or
    24  its successor shall have the power and its duty shall be to
    25  adopt the rules and regulations of the department to accomplish
    26  the purposes and carry out the provisions of this act.
    27     (b)  Review of department fee structure.--The Environmental
    28  Quality Board or its successor shall review every [four] three
    29  years the fee structure as authorized by [sections 401 and
    30  402(b)] section 401.
    20070H0496B1906                  - 4 -     

     1     Section 2.  Section 402 of the act, repealed in part December
     2  18, 1992 (P.L.1638, No.180), is amended to read:
     3  Section 402.  Nuclear facility and transport fees.
     4     (a)  General rule.--Persons engaged in the business of
     5  producing electricity utilizing nuclear energy, operating
     6  facilities for storing away-from-reactor spent nuclear fuel [for
     7  others] or fabrication of nuclear reactor fuel or shipping spent
     8  nuclear fuel, high-level waste, transuranic waste or a large
     9  quantity of radioactive material shall pay fees to cover the
    10  costs of the programs related to their activities as required by
    11  this act.
    12     (b.1)  Department fees.--
    13         (1)  Within 30 days of the effective date of this
    14     subsection each person who has a current nuclear power
    15     reactor construction permit or operating license from the NRC
    16     for a site within this Commonwealth shall pay the department
    17     $100,000 per nuclear power reactor site, regardless of the
    18     number of individual nuclear power reactors located at the
    19     site. By July 1, 2007, and July 1 of each year thereafter,
    20     each person who has a current nuclear power reactor
    21     construction permit or operating license from the NRC for a
    22     site within this Commonwealth shall pay the department an
    23     annual fee of $550,000 per nuclear power reactor site,
    24     regardless of the number of individual nuclear power reactors
    25     located at the site. For the purposes of this subsection
    26     only, a nuclear power reactor site shall be deemed to be the
    27     location of one or more individual nuclear power reactors
    28     which still has spent nuclear fuel stored onsite, has not
    29     been fully dismantled and decommissioned pursuant to
    30     applicable Federal law and regulations, and has not been
    20070H0496B1906                  - 5 -     

     1     granted license termination by the NRC.
     2         (2)  By July 1 of each year, each person who has applied
     3     for or currently holds a valid license from the NRC to
     4     operate an away-from-reactor spent nuclear fuel storage
     5     facility within this Commonwealth shall pay to the department
     6     an annual fee of $250,000 per site.
     7         (3)  By July 1 of each year, each person who has approval
     8     from the Department of Energy, or has applied for or
     9     currently holds a valid license from the NRC, to operate a
    10     reactor fuel fabrication facility within this Commonwealth
    11     shall pay to the department an annual fee of $250,000 per
    12     site.
    13         (4)  Prior to the date of a shipment that requires an
    14     escort, each shipper of spent nuclear fuel, high-level waste,
    15     transuranic waste or a large quantity of radioactive material
    16     who ships to, within, through or across this Commonwealth
    17     shall pay to the department a fee of $500 per individual
    18     vehicle shipment or $1,000 per railroad or river barge
    19     shipment.
    20         (5)  Every three years beginning in 2009, the department
    21     shall convene a working group consisting of personnel from
    22     the department selected by the secretary and an equal number
    23     of representatives from the nuclear facilities, selected by
    24     the owners of those facilities, to review the nuclear
    25     facility fees paid to the department, related issues that may
    26     have an impact on those fees and the expenditures made by the
    27     department in administering its radiation protection
    28     programs. This working group shall issue a report to the
    29     General Assembly outlining its findings of fact and its
    30     recommendations relative to the fees imposed by the
    20070H0496B1906                  - 6 -     

     1     department pursuant to this section, including any individual
     2     or minority recommendations from members of the working
     3     group.
     4     (b.2)  Actual department cost recovery.--The following
     5  individual nuclear power reactors shall be subject to actual
     6  department cost recovery for decommissioning oversight
     7  responsibilities, with these costs to be tracked by site and
     8  invoiced to the person holding the NRC reactor license at the
     9  end of each Commonwealth fiscal quarter:
    10         (1)  Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Unit 1.
    11         (2)  Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, Unit
    12     2.
    13  The two individual nuclear power reactors specified in this
    14  subsection are not subject to the fees described in subsections
    15  (b.1)(1) and (c)(1.1).
    16     (c)  Agency fees.--
    17         [(1)  Each person who has received or has applied for a
    18     nuclear power reactor facility operating license from the NRC
    19     shall pay to the agency a one-time fee of $200,000 per site
    20     within 30 days of the effective date of this act and an
    21     annual fee of $100,000 per site payable by July 1 of each
    22     year, regardless of the number of power reactors per site.]
    23         (1.1)  (i)  Within 30 days of the effective date of this
    24         paragraph each person who has a current nuclear power
    25         reactor construction permit or operating license from the
    26         NRC, for a site within this Commonwealth, shall pay the
    27         agency, regardless of the number of individual nuclear
    28         power reactors located at the site, $100,000 TO BE         <--
    29         DEPOSITED INTO THE RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
    30         PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM FUND to be collected
    20070H0496B1906                  - 7 -     

     1         and used by the agency in accordance with the provisions
     2         of 35 Pa.C.S. § 7320 (relating to radiological emergency
     3         response preparedness, planning and recovery program) and
     4         $50,000 TO BE DEPOSITED INTO THE RADIATION EMERGENCY       <--
     5         RESPONSE FUND to be collected and used by the agency for
     6         radiological emergency response equipment, planning,
     7         training and exercise costs involving nonagency
     8         personnel. By July 1, 2007, and July 1 of each year
     9         thereafter, each person who has a current nuclear power
    10         reactor construction permit or operating license from the
    11         NRC, for a site within this Commonwealth, shall pay the
    12         agency the following fees, regardless of the number of
    13         individual nuclear power reactors located at the site:
    14                 (A)  $200,000 to be collected and used by the
    15             agency in accordance with the provisions of 35
    16             Pa.C.S. § 7320.
    17                 (B)  $150,000 to be collected and used by the
    18             agency for radiological emergency response equipment,
    19             planning, training and exercise costs involving
    20             nonagency personnel.
    21             (ii)  Payments collected under this section            <--
    22         SUBPARAGRAPH (I)(A) shall be deposited into the            <--
    23         Radiological Emergency Response Planning and Preparedness
    24         Program Fund established pursuant to 35 Pa.C.S. §
    25         7320(c). PAYMENTS COLLECTED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I)(B)      <--
    26         SHALL BE DEPOSITED INTO THE RADIATION EMERGENCY RESPONSE
    27         FUND. For the purposes of this subsection only, a nuclear
    28         power reactor site shall be deemed to be the location of
    29         one or more individual nuclear power reactors which still
    30         has spent nuclear fuel stored onsite, has not been fully
    20070H0496B1906                  - 8 -     

     1         dismantled and decommissioned pursuant to applicable
     2         Federal law and regulations and has not been granted
     3         license termination by the NRC.
     4         (2)  [Each] By July 1 of each year, each person who has
     5     applied for or [received a valid] holds a current license
     6     from the NRC to operate an away-from-reactor spent nuclear
     7     fuel storage facility within this Commonwealth shall pay to
     8     the agency an annual fee of [$50,000 per site payable by July
     9     1 of each year] $75,000 per site.
    10         (3)  [Each] By July 1 of each year, each person who has
    11     approval from the Department of Energy, or has applied for or
    12     [received a valid] holds a current license from the NRC to
    13     operate a reactor fuel fabrication facility within this
    14     Commonwealth shall pay to the agency an annual fee of
    15     [$50,000 per site payable by July 1 of each year] $75,000 per
    16     site.
    17         (4)  [Each] Prior to the proposed date of a shipment that
    18     requires an escort, each shipper of spent [reactor fuel]
    19     nuclear fuel, high-level waste, transuranic waste or a large
    20     quantity of radioactive material who ships to, within,
    21     through or across the boundaries of this Commonwealth shall
    22     pay to the agency a fee of [$1,000 per shipment, payable
    23     prior to the proposed date of shipment.] $2,500 per
    24     individual vehicle shipment or $4,500 per railroad car or
    25     river barge shipment.
    26         (5)  Every three years beginning in 2009, the agency
    27     shall convene a working group consisting of personnel from
    28     the agency selected by the director and an equal number of
    29     representatives from the nuclear facilities, selected by the
    30     owners of those facilities, to review the nuclear facility
    20070H0496B1906                  - 9 -     

     1     fees paid to the agency, related issues that may have an
     2     impact on those fees and the expenditures made by the agency
     3     in administering its radiation protection programs. This
     4     working group shall issue a report to the General Assembly
     5     outlining its findings of fact and its recommendations
     6     relative to the fees imposed by the agency pursuant to this
     7     section, including any individual or minority recommendations
     8     from members of the working group.
     9     (d)  [PSP] Pennsylvania State Police fees.--
    10         (1)  Each shipper of spent [reactor fuel] nuclear fuel,
    11     high-level waste, transuranic waste or a large quantity of
    12     radioactive material who ships to, within, through or across
    13     the Commonwealth shall reimburse the [PSP] Pennsylvania State
    14     Police for the actual costs, as determined by the
    15     Pennsylvania State Police, to provide escort service. [at the
    16     following rates: $20 per hour per officer and 50¢ per mile
    17     for highway shipments. Rail shipments shall be based on a
    18     rate of $25 per hour per officer.] If the shipment is
    19     canceled following [PSP] notification for escort service, the
    20     shipper shall compensate the [PSP] Pennsylvania State Police
    21     at an appropriate rate for [four] total hours of officers'
    22     time.
    23         (2)  [The PSP may adjust the rates by regulation as
    24     prevailing wage rates and transportation costs change.] The
    25     Pennsylvania State Police may establish a schedule of fees
    26     for escort, and revise such fees on an annual basis. Such
    27     fees shall be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
    28     (e)  Penalties.--Any person violating any provision of this
    29  chapter shall be subject to the penalties and enforcement
    30  provisions of section 309(a) and (b).
    20070H0496B1906                 - 10 -     

     1     Section 3.  Sections 403 and 502 of the act are amended to
     2  read:
     3  Section 403.  Creation of special funds.
     4     (a)  Radiation Protection Fund.--There is hereby created in
     5  the General Fund a restricted account to be known as the
     6  Radiation Protection Fund. Fees and penalties received under
     7  sections 401 [and 402(b)], 402(b.1)(1), (2), (3) and (4) and
     8  costs recovered under section 402(b.2) shall be deposited in
     9  this fund and are hereby appropriated to the department for the
    10  purpose of carrying out its powers and duties under this act.
    11     (b)  Radiation Emergency Response Fund.--There is hereby
    12  created in the General Fund a restricted account to be known as
    13  the Radiation Emergency Response Fund. Fees received under
    14  section [402(c)(1),] 402(c)(1.1) 402(C)(1.1)(I)(B), (2) and (3)   <--
    15  shall be deposited in this fund as provided and are hereby
    16  appropriated to the agency for the purpose of carrying out its
    17  responsibilities under Chapter 5.
    18     (c)  Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Fund.--There
    19  is hereby created in the General Fund a restricted account to be
    20  known as the Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Fund.
    21  Fees received under section 402(c)(4) shall be deposited in this
    22  fund and are hereby appropriated to the agency for the purpose
    23  of carrying out its responsibilities under Chapter 6.
    24  Section 502.  Response program.
    25     In conjunction with the department, the agency shall develop
    26  a Radiation Emergency Response Program for incorporation into
    27  the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Plan [development]
    28  developed by the agency pursuant to Title 35 of the Pennsylvania
    29  Consolidated Statutes (relating to health and safety). Any
    30  volunteer organizations which are incorporated into the
    20070H0496B1906                 - 11 -     

     1  Radiation Emergency Response Program developed under the
     2  authority of this act shall be consulted prior to such
     3  incorporation. The Radiation Emergency Response Program shall
     4  include an assessment of potential nuclear accidents or
     5  incidents, the radiological consequences and necessary
     6  protective measures required to mitigate the effects of such
     7  accidents or incidents. The program shall include, but not be
     8  limited to:
     9         (1)  Development of a detailed fixed nuclear emergency
    10     response plan for areas surrounding each nuclear electrical
    11     generation facility, nuclear fuel fabricator and away-from-
    12     reactor storage facility. The term "areas" shall be deemed to
    13     mean the emergency response zone designated by the [NCR] NRC
    14     Emergency Response Plan applicable to each such fixed nuclear
    15     facility.
    16         (2)  Notification by nuclear power facility operating
    17     licensees of municipalities within the areas set forth in
    18     paragraph (1) of unusual radioactivity as defined in section
    19     301(d).
    20         (3)  Training and equipping of State and local emergency
    21     response personnel.
    22         (4)  Periodical exercise of the accident scenarios
    23     designated in the NRC Emergency Response Plan applicable to
    24     each fixed nuclear facility.
    25         (5)  Procurement of specialized supplies and equipment.
    26         (6)  Provisions for financial assistance to
    27     municipalities, school districts, volunteer and State
    28     agencies as provided for in section 503.
    29         (7)  At a minimum, each nuclear power reactor owner shall
    30     provide to the department existing plant and radiological
    20070H0496B1906                 - 12 -     

     1     monitoring data collected by that owner, derived from
     2     equipment and monitoring methods installed by each owner in
     3     accordance with the requirements of its license by the
     4     Nuclear Regulatory Commission. By July 1, 2008, each plant
     5     owner shall enter into an agreement with the department
     6     establishing the protocols for providing such data to the
     7     department through an expedited, secure process. Nothing in
     8     this section shall be construed to diminish or abrogate any
     9     existing agreement between the department and a plant owner
    10     to provide data for the purpose of monitoring plant and
    11     radiological conditions important to the protection of the
    12     general public.
    13     Section 4.  The heading of Chapter 6 of the act is amended to
    14  read:
    15                             CHAPTER 6
    16               TRANSPORTATION OF [SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL]
    17                        RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL
    18     Section 5.  Sections 601, 602, 603 and 604 of the act are
    19  amended to read:
    20  Section 601.  General rule.
    21     It is unlawful for any person to transport upon the highways,
    22  waterways or rails of this Commonwealth any spent nuclear fuel,
    23  high-level waste, transuranic waste or a large quantity of
    24  radioactive material unless that person notifies the agency in
    25  advance [of transporting the spent nuclear fuel] in accordance
    26  with [10 C.F.R. 71.5(a) and (b).] 10 CFR Pt. 71 (relating to
    27  packaging and transportation of radioactive material) regarding
    28  advanced notification of shipment of irradiated reactor fuel and
    29  nuclear waste. Notification requirements for transuranic waste
    30  or a large quantity of radioactive material shall be the same as
    20070H0496B1906                 - 13 -     

     1  required for irradiated reactor fuel and nuclear waste.
     2  Section 602.  Escort requirements.
     3     All shipments of spent nuclear fuel or high-level waste
     4  shipped to, within, through or across the boundaries of the
     5  Commonwealth shall be escorted by the Pennsylvania State Police.
     6  All shipments of transuranic waste or large quantities of
     7  radioactive material shipped to, within, through or across the
     8  boundaries of this Commonwealth may, at the discretion of the
     9  Pennsylvania State Police in consultation with the department,
    10  be escorted by the Pennsylvania State Police.
    11  Section 603.  Authorization.
    12     Spent nuclear fuel, high-level waste, transuranic waste or a
    13  large quantity of radioactive material shipments shall be
    14  authorized by the agency subject to the Commonwealth's authority
    15  to delay individual highway, waterway and rail shipments due to
    16  specific holiday [or safety], safety or security considerations
    17  including, but not limited to, weather, highway, waterway or
    18  rail conditions.
    19  Section 604.  Radiation Transportation Emergency Response Plan.
    20     (a)  Planning.--The agency shall develop the Transportation
    21  Emergency Response Plan to respond to accidents involving the
    22  shipment of spent [fuel] nuclear fuel, high-level waste,
    23  transuranic waste or a large quantity of radioactive material.
    24  The plan shall:
    25         (1)  Incorporate local agencies and volunteer
    26     organizations along the preprescribed routes [for] of
    27     transport [of spent fuel].
    28         (2)  Incorporate any Commonwealth agency responsible for
    29     protection of the health and safety of the public as
    30     necessary and approved by the specific agency.
    20070H0496B1906                 - 14 -     

     1     (b)  Funding of State and local agencies.--Funds received
     2  under section 402(c)(4) shall be used to train and equip State
     3  and local agencies and volunteer organizations in accordance
     4  with regulations adopted by the council to implement the plan.
     5     Section 6.  Repeals are as follows:
     6         (1)  The General Assembly declares that the repeals under
     7     paragraph (2) are necessary to effectuate the amendment of
     8     sections 103, 302, 402, 403, 502 and 603 of the act.
     9         (2)  The following acts and parts of acts are repealed:
    10             (i)  Sections 616-A(3) and 1904-A.2 of the act of
    11         April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The
    12         Administrative Code of 1929.
    13             (ii)  35 Pa.C.S. § 7320(d).
    14         (3)  All other acts and parts of acts are repealed
    15     insofar as they are inconsistent with this act.
    16     Section 7.  This act shall take effect immediately.










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