S 1498

This bill expands the definition of "nuclear power plant areas" in Massachusetts law to include all communities within a 50-mile radius of any nuclear power plant, whether active or inactive, as long as nuclear waste is stored on-site in spent fuel pools or dry cask storage facilities. The legislation ensures that inactive nuclear plants storing high-level radioactive waste remain subject to the same safety designations and potential assessments as operating plants until all nuclear waste is removed from the site. This change addresses public safety concerns in communities near decommissioned nuclear facilities like Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, which continue to store spent fuel even after ceasing operations, by maintaining regulatory oversight and safety standards regardless of a plant's operational status.