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Senate advances audit-driven radiation-control amendments after questions on in-state storage
Summary
Senators moved Senate Bill 129 — changes to Utah’s Radiation Control Act and board authority driven by a legislative audit — to the third‑reading calendar after sponsors described staggered board terms, expanded hearing powers, and financial-assurance tools; floor questions probed whether low‑level radioactive waste is currently stored in Utah (Envirocare).
Senators on Feb. 10 debated and advanced Senate Bill 129, a substitute package of amendments intended to implement legislative audit recommendations for Utah’s radiation-control regime.
Sponsor Senator Reese told the Senate the substitute incorporates the audit committee’s three recommendations, revises board member terms so they are staggered like other DEQ boards, clarifies the radiation board’s powers and duties, and empowers the board to hold hearings and address financial-assurance issues such as ensuring funds are available for facility closure. The bill also requires legislative and gubernatorial approval for new facilities that would commercially store or allow decay-in-storage of low‑level Class B and C radioactive waste.
During floor questions senators pressed whether Utah currently stores low‑level radioactive waste. A senator noted that much low‑level waste is currently shipped out of state; Reese and other floor speakers identified Envirocare as the state‑licensed facility that receives some low‑level materials and said the bill primarily addresses that type of facility. Reese said the bill does not change federal NRC primacy for facilities licensed by the NRC (for example, Umetco) and agreed to provide departmental clarifications before the final vote.
The clerk announced a roll-call tally that placed the bill on the third‑reading calendar with an affirmative count ('Senate bill 129 shows 26 ayes').
Next steps: Sponsors indicated they would provide answers to outstanding technical questions and the bill will appear on the Senate's third‑reading calendar for final consideration.
