Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
2007 Minnesota Statutes
This is an historical version of this statute chapter. Also view the most recent published version.
116C.76 NUCLEAR WASTE DEPOSITORY RELEASE INTO GROUNDWATER.
Subdivision 1. Radionuclide release levels. Radioactive waste management facilities for
spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive wastes must be designed to provide a reasonable
expectation that the undisturbed performance of the radioactive waste management facility will
not cause the radionuclide concentrations, averaged over any year, in groundwater to exceed:
(1) five picocuries per liter of radium-226 and radium-228;
(2) 15 picocuries per liter of alpha-emitting radionuclides including radium-226 and
radium-228, but excluding radon; or
(3) the combined concentrations of radionuclides that emit either beta or gamma radiation
that would produce an annual dose equivalent to the total body of any internal organ greater
than four millirems per year if an individual consumed two liters per day of drinking water
from the groundwater.
Subd. 2. Disposal restricted. The location or construction of a radioactive waste
management facility for high-level radioactive waste is prohibited where the average annual
radionuclide concentrations in groundwater before construction of the facility exceed the limits in
subdivision 1.
Subd. 3. Protection against radionuclide release. Radioactive waste management facilities
must be selected, located, and designed to keep any allowable radionuclide releases to the
groundwater as low as reasonably achievable.
History: 1986 c 425 s 11
Subdivision 1. Radionuclide release levels. Radioactive waste management facilities for
spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive wastes must be designed to provide a reasonable
expectation that the undisturbed performance of the radioactive waste management facility will
not cause the radionuclide concentrations, averaged over any year, in groundwater to exceed:
(1) five picocuries per liter of radium-226 and radium-228;
(2) 15 picocuries per liter of alpha-emitting radionuclides including radium-226 and
radium-228, but excluding radon; or
(3) the combined concentrations of radionuclides that emit either beta or gamma radiation
that would produce an annual dose equivalent to the total body of any internal organ greater
than four millirems per year if an individual consumed two liters per day of drinking water
from the groundwater.
Subd. 2. Disposal restricted. The location or construction of a radioactive waste
management facility for high-level radioactive waste is prohibited where the average annual
radionuclide concentrations in groundwater before construction of the facility exceed the limits in
subdivision 1.
Subd. 3. Protection against radionuclide release. Radioactive waste management facilities
must be selected, located, and designed to keep any allowable radionuclide releases to the
groundwater as low as reasonably achievable.
History: 1986 c 425 s 11
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Revisor of Statutes