Bill Text: NJ AR26 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enhance oversight of New Jersey's nuclear facilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee [AR26 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR26-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enhance oversight of New Jersey's nuclear facilities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enhance its oversight of the nuclear reactors operating in New Jersey.
Whereas, The State of New Jersey has four nuclear power plants located in Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County, and Lacey Township in Ocean County; and
Whereas, In addition to the four nuclear power plants in the southern part of this State, New Jersey also is bordered by nuclear power plants to the west in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania and to the north in Buchanan, New York; and
Whereas, Nearly all of this State's land area lies within a 50-mile radius of at least one of the nuclear power plants; and
Whereas, The is United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is charged with the task of developing regulations governing nuclear reactor and nuclear material safety in order to ensure the highest level of health, safety, and security to the citizens of the United States and to the environment; and
Whereas, Following a year-long investigation, the Associated Press issued a report finding that the regulators with the NRC have been weakening standards in order to allow aging nuclear reactors to be compliant with federal operating requirements; and
Whereas, The investigation conducted by the Associated Press revealed that tritium, a radioactive form of hydrogen and a byproduct of nuclear fission, has leaked from at least 48 of the nation's 65 nuclear power plants, including several facilities operating in the State of New Jersey; and
Whereas, The primary cause of these leaks was found to be corroding underground pipes, some of which serve as emergency conduits that would cool reactors in the case of a meltdown or other reactor core crises; and
Whereas, In 2009, plant workers discovered that tritium in approximately 3,000 gallons of water had leaked into a concrete vault housing electrical lines at the Oyster Creek facility in Lacey Township, the country's oldest operating reactor; and
Whereas, Since 2009, workers at Oyster Creek have discovered leaking tritium three more times at concentrations up to 10.8 million picocuries per liter, which is 540 times the EPA's drinking water limit, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Although none has been directly measured in drinking water, tritium has been found in an aquifer and in a canal discharging into nearby Barnegat Bay, a popular spot for swimming, boating, and fishing; and
Whereas, One of the highest known tritium readings was discovered in 2002 at the Salem nuclear plant in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey, where leaks from the spent fuel pool contaminated groundwater under the facility at a concentration of 15 million picocuries per liter, which is 750 times the EPA drinking water limit; and
Whereas, In order to prevent further contamination caused by the corrosion of pipes in New Jersey's nuclear facilities, it is necessary that the NRC enhance its inspection and maintenance requirements and improve its overall approach to holding United States nuclear power plants to strict safety standards; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper, and within the public interest, for this House to respectfully memorialize the NRC to enhance its oversight of nuclear reactors operating in the State of New Jersey in order to protect individuals from the multiple health problems that would result from exposure to high amounts of tritium, as well as save lives by preventing a radiological emergency; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully memorializes the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enhance its oversight of the nuclear reactors operating in New Jersey in order to better protect its citizens from the dangers of pollution or a catastrophic disaster.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the five Commissioners of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution respectfully memorializes the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to enhance its oversight of the nuclear reactors operating in New Jersey in order to better protect its citizens from the dangers of pollution or a catastrophic disaster.
