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.