HBA-SEP H.B. 2370 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2370 By: Burnam Environmental Regulation 3/29/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Low-level radioactive waste has been disposed of in unlined shallow landfills since the 1940's and in that time, all six commercial burial sites in the U.S. have leaked causing irreversible damage. Replacing belowground disposal of low-level radioactive waste with an aboveground monitored retrievable storage facility may help prevent leaks from occurring and allow for repair. House Bill 2370 removes exceptions to the prohibition of disposing low-level radioactive waste in a landfill below the natural level of a disposal site. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 2370 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove exceptions to the prohibition of disposing low-level radioactive waste in a landfill below the natural level of a disposal site. The bill repeals provisions regarding techniques for managing low-level radioactive waste. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.