Committee approves assessment to fund off-site emergency planning for Palo Verde

Senate Bill 1009, which would levy a biennial assessment on owners and operators of commercial nuclear generating stations in Arizona to fund off-site emergency planning, passed the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water with a due-pass recommendation.

The bill appropriates $2,617,991 from the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund for fiscal year 2026 and $2,711,339 for fiscal year 2027 for distribution to the Division of Emergency Management within the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs and to municipal and county agencies with responsibilities under the off-site response plan.

The measure funds planning, equipment, personnel, facilities, training and testing tied to off-site responses to a nuclear accident. "Federal regulations require commercial nuclear power plants to have both on-site and off-site emergency response plans as a condition for obtaining and maintaining a license to operate the plant," said Hershel Fink, representing Arizona Public Service, the operator of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. "Emergency planning for Palo Verde is a cooperative effort involving APS, the State of Arizona, Maricopa County, City of Buckeye, and other supporting agencies."

Travis Schulte, legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, described DEMA as the lead coordinator for off-site emergency response and said the department recently conducted its biennial multiagency exercise that tests plans and response capabilities supported by the fund. "DEMA has a lead responsibility to coordinate the off-site emergency response in the unlikely event of an emergency at the Palo Verde Generating Station with over 26 of our state, county, tribal, and local partners," Schulte said.

Committee members recorded the motion to return the bill with a due-pass recommendation and the committee roll call produced 8 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent; the chair announced that the bill passed with a due-pass recommendation.

The bill was described by staff to be an emergency measure that levies the assessment, with applicable interest, against the corporations involved in construction or operation of a commercial nuclear generating site in the state and deposits receipts into the Nuclear Emergency Management Fund.

If enacted, the statute would continue the existing biennial levy to support the off-site emergency response plan and related activities. The committee discussion included no amendment to the funding amounts presented during the hearing.

Votes at a glance: The committee voted to return Senate Bill 1009 with a due-pass recommendation. The committee's roll call, as read at the hearing, produced 8 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent.

Looking ahead, the bill will move to the full Senate for further consideration; the committee record shows the recommendation only and does not by itself enact the appropriations described in the bill.