By:  Truan                                            S.B. No. 1631
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to the evaluation and study of potential low-level
    1-2  radioactive waste disposal sites.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 402.082, Health and Safety Code, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 402.082.  Study Criteria.  (a)  Studies required under
    1-7  Section 402.081 must consider:
    1-8              (1)  the volume of low-level waste generated by type
    1-9  and source categories for the expected life of the disposal site,
   1-10  including waste that may be generated from the decommissioning of
   1-11  nuclear power plants located in this state;
   1-12              (2)  geology;
   1-13              (3)  topography;
   1-14              (4)  transportation and access;
   1-15              (5)  meteorology;
   1-16              (6)  population density;
   1-17              (7)  surface and subsurface hydrology;
   1-18              (8)  flora and fauna;
   1-19              (9)  current land use;
   1-20              (10)  criteria established by the department for
   1-21  disposal site selection;
   1-22              (11)  the proximity of the disposal site to sources of
   1-23  low-level waste, including related transportation costs, to the
    2-1  extent that the proximity and transportation costs do not interfere
    2-2  with selection of a suitable disposal site for protecting public
    2-3  health and the environment;
    2-4              (12)  other disposal site characteristics that may need
    2-5  study on a preliminary basis and for which detailed study would be
    2-6  required to prepare an application or license required for disposal
    2-7  site operation; and
    2-8              (13)  alternative management techniques, including
    2-9  aboveground isolation facilities, waste processing and reduction at
   2-10  the site of waste generation and at an authority management site,
   2-11  and waste recycling.
   2-12        (b)  In addition to the considerations listed in Subsection
   2-13  (a), when a potential site is located within 100 kilometers of the
   2-14  Texas-Mexico border, the studies must consider related geological,
   2-15  topographical, population density, and surface and subsurface
   2-16  hydrological information from Mexico.
   2-17        SECTION 2.  Section 402.084, Health and Safety Code, is
   2-18  amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
   2-19        (d)  When a potential site is located within 100 kilometers
   2-20  of the Texas-Mexico border, public officials and members of local
   2-21  boards or governing bodies of local political subdivisions of
   2-22  affected communities in Mexico shall be invited to participate in
   2-23  appropriate evaluation discussions and activities.
   2-24        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   2-25        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
    3-1  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    3-2  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    3-3  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    3-4  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.