HF 255

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 01/31/2013 01:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to energy; nuclear waste; directing the commissioner of commerce to
assess federal progress in developing a permanent repository for high-level
radioactive waste; requiring reports; specifying actions to be taken by the
commissioner of commerce and Public Utilities Commission in certain
circumstances.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin CESSATION OF NUCLEAR WASTE FUND PAYMENTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Determination; report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of commerce shall
monitor the activities of the federal government with respect to its charge under the
Nuclear Waste Policy Act, United States Code, title 42, section 10101 et seq., to develop
and construct a permanent repository for the deposit of high-level radioactive waste
generated from electric generating plants powered with nuclear fuel. No sooner than
September 30, 2014, but no later than December 1, 2014, the commissioner of commerce
shall make a determination as to whether adequate progress is being made to develop
such a permanent repository, and shall submit a report containing the determination and
evidence supporting it to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house
committees with primary jurisdiction over energy policy and environmental policy and the
secretary of the Public Utilities Commission.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Cessation of fee collection; fee recovery. new text end

new text begin (a) If the commissioner of
commerce determines that adequate progress is not being made to develop a permanent
repository, beginning January 1, 2015:
new text end

new text begin (1) the Public Utilities Commission shall direct persons in Minnesota that are
generating or holding title to high-level radioactive waste and that are subject to the fee
deposited in the Nuclear Waste Fund, as specified in United States Code, title 42, section
10222, to cease collecting the fee from Minnesota ratepayers; and
new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner of commerce shall take appropriate action to recover all fees
deposited by Minnesota utilities into the Nuclear Waste Fund since its inception, plus
interest.
new text end

new text begin (b) By April 15, 2015, the commissioner of commerce shall describe the actions it
intends to take to fulfill its requirements under this subdivision in a report submitted to the
same parties as the report required under subdivision 1. The report shall be updated on
January 1, 2016, and each January 1 thereafter.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end