S 442

This bill establishes a special commission to study the potential environmental and economic impacts of discharging radioactive wastewater from nuclear power plant decommissioning into Massachusetts waters, including impacts on fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and restaurant industries. The commission, co-chaired by the Attorney General and Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, must conduct at least four public listening sessions across affected counties and submit a report with recommendations by November 1, 2025. Critically, the bill prohibits any discharge of radioactive materials from spent fuel pools into state waters until 90 days after the commission issues its final report, effectively creating a moratorium on such discharges while the study is conducted.