Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 254 (2025GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Bolinder, Bridger

Final action

Governor Signed 3/24/2025

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• modifies the definition of high-level nuclear waste and low-level radioactive waste; and
• makes technical and conforming changes.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

5
19-3-102
19-3-303
0
Waste Classification Amendments
2025 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Bridger Bolinder
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill relates to nuclear waste classification.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
modifies the definition of high-level nuclear waste and low-level radioactive waste; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
19-3-102
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 360
19-3-303
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1, Section 
19-3-102
 is amended to read:
19-3-102
. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1)
"Board" means the Waste Management and Radiation Control Board created under 
Section 
19-1-106
.
(2)
(a)
"Broker" means a person 
who
that
 performs one or more of the following 
functions for a generator:
(i)
arranges for transportation of the radioactive waste;
(ii)
collects or consolidates shipments of radioactive waste; or
(iii)
processes radioactive waste in some manner.
(b)
"Broker" does not include a carrier whose sole function is to transport the radioactive 
waste.
(3)
"Byproduct material" means the same as that term is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 
2014(e)(2).
(4)
"Class B and class C low-level radioactive waste" means the same as that term is 
defined in 10 C.F.R. Sec. 61.55.
(5)
"Director" means the director of the Division of Waste Management and Radiation 
Control.
(6)
"Division" means the Division of Waste Management and Radiation Control
,
 created 
in Subsection 
19-1-105(1)(d)
.
(7)
"Generator" means a person 
who
that
:
(a)
possesses any material or component:
(i)
that contains radioactivity or is radioactively contaminated; and
(ii)
for which the person foresees no further use; and
(b)
transfers the material or component to:
(i)
a commercial radioactive waste treatment or disposal facility; or
(ii)
a broker.
(8)
"High-level nuclear waste" means the same as the term "high-level radioactive waste" is 
defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 10101.
(8)
(a)
"High-level nuclear waste" means spent reactor fuel assemblies, dismantled 
nuclear reactor components, and solid and liquid wastes from fuel reprocessing and 
defense-related wastes.
(b)
"High-level nuclear waste" does not include medical or institutional wastes, 
naturally occurring radioactive materials, or uranium mill tailings.
(9)
(a)
"Low-level radioactive waste" means waste material that contains radioactive 
nuclides emitting primarily beta or gamma radiation, or both, in concentrations or 
quantities that exceed applicable federal or state standards for unrestricted release.
(b)
"Low-level radioactive waste" does not include waste containing more than 100 
nanocuries of transuranic contaminants per gram of material, nor spent reactor fuel, 
nor material classified as either high-level waste or waste which is unsuited for 
disposal by near-surface burial under any applicable federal regulations.
(9)
"Low-level radioactive waste" means the same as that term is defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 
10101.
(10)
"Radiation" means ionizing and nonionizing radiation, including gamma rays, X-rays, 
alpha and beta particles, high speed electrons, and other nuclear particles.
(11)
"Radioactive" means any solid, liquid, or gas which emits radiation spontaneously 
from decay of unstable nuclei.
(12)
"Unlicensed facility" means a structure, road, or property:
(a)
adjacent to, but outside of, a licensed or permitted area; and
(b)
that is not used for waste disposal or waste management.
Section 2, Section 
19-3-303
 is amended to read:
19-3-303
. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1)
"Final judgment" means a final ruling or judgment, including any supporting opinion, 
that determines the rights of the parties and concerning which all appellate remedies 
have been exhausted or the time for appeal has expired.
(2)
"Goods" means any materials or supplies, whether raw, processed, or manufactured.
(3)
"Greater than class C radioactive waste" means low-level radioactive waste that has 
higher concentrations of specific radionuclides than allowed for class C waste.
(4)
"Gross value of the contract" means the totality of the consideration received for any 
goods, services, or municipal-type services delivered or rendered in the state without any 
deduction for expense paid or accrued with respect to it.
(5)
"High-level nuclear waste" 
has the same meaning as in
means the same as that term is 
defined in
 Section 
19-3-102
.
(6)
"Municipal-type services" includes, but is not limited to:
(a)
fire protection service;
(b)
waste and garbage collection and disposal;
(c)
planning and zoning;
(d)
street lighting;
(e)
life support and paramedic services;
(f)
water;
(g)
sewer;
(h)
electricity;
(i)
natural gas or other fuel; or
(j)
law enforcement.
(7)
"Organization" means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited 
liability partnership, joint venture, consortium, association, trust, or other entity formed 
to undertake an enterprise, whether or not for profit.
(8)
"Placement" means transportation, transfer, storage, decay in storage, treatment, or 
disposal.
(9)
"Political subdivision" means any county, city, town, school district, public transit 
district, redevelopment agency, special improvement or taxing district, or other 
governmental subdivision or public corporation.
(10)
"Rule" means a rule made by the department under 
Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah 
Administrative Rulemaking Act
.
(11)
"Service" or "services" means any work or governmental program which provides a 
benefit.
(12)
"Storage facility" means any facility which stores, holds, or otherwise provides for the 
emplacement of waste regardless of the intent to recover that waste for subsequent use, 
processing, or disposal.
(13)
"Transfer facility" means any facility which transfers waste from and between 
transportation modes, vehicles, cars, or other units, and includes rail terminals and 
intermodal transfer points.
(14)
"Waste" or "wastes" means high-level nuclear waste and greater than class C 
radioactive waste.
Section 3. 
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on 
May 7, 2025
.
3-11-25 2:59 PM