Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Senators approve clarification to allow on‑site storage of reactor‑generated high‑level waste at new reactors
Loading...
Summary
A committee substitute to House Bill 4,112 clarifies that current and future nuclear power reactors and university research reactors may store high‑level radioactive waste on‑site so long as the material originated at that site; sponsors said the change prevents unintended barriers to new federal‑licensed reactors.
The committee heard House Bill 4,112 and a committee substitute intended to clarify earlier 2019 session language that bars the state from becoming a repository for high‑level radioactive waste.
Sponsor Chairman Birdwell said HB 7’s prior restrictions were written to prevent off‑site disposal in Texas but could be misread to bar on‑site storage at new nuclear power reactors or university research reactors. "HB 41 12 clarifies that all former, current, and future nuclear power reactors and university operated nuclear research and test reactors are exempt from the restrictions on high level radioactive waste storage so long as that waste originated at that site," Birdwell said.
The committee substitute added commas and removed an inoperative subsection to ensure the statutory exception functions as intended. Testimony from environmental groups and industry representatives reflected support for the clarified language. Cyrus Reed of the Sierra Club said he supported the committee substitute; Reid Clay of the Texas Nuclear Alliance supported the clarification but cautioned that some added subsections could hamper future beneficial recycling of materials if moved too strictly.
The committee left the bill pending following the clarification. Witnesses said the language preserves the current policy of prohibiting off‑site storage while ensuring that on‑site interim storage for reactors licensed by the NRC remains possible for new projects.
