Allow Natural Occurring Radioactive Material Rules
State board of health - disposal of naturally occurring radioactive materials - rulemaking required - stakeholder process - reporting. The act repeals a prohibition against the state board of health's adoption of rules concerning the disposal of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) unless the federal environmental protection agency (EPA) first adopts such rules. The act requires the state board to adopt such rules by December 31, 2020, even though the EPA has not yet adopted any such rules. The state board's rules must also regulate technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM).
Before the rules are adopted, the department of public health and environment is required to:
- Convene a stakeholder group to discuss the development of rules; and
- Provide a report and a detailed summary of the stakeholder process to the general assembly by December 31, 2019.
Until the rules become effective, the handling, transportation, beneficial use, and disposal of TENORM is governed by guidance, including specified letters, issued by the department.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)