SB 18-245

Senate Bill 18-245 allows Colorado's state board of health to create rules for managing naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) and technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM), without waiting for the federal government to do so. This bill requires the department of public health and environment to gather input from stakeholders and report back to the general assembly before finalizing these rules by the end of 2020. Until then, current guidance will continue to govern how TENORM is handled. The bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now official state policy.

Official Summary

Current law allows the state board of health to adopt rules concerning the disposal of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) only after the federal environmental protection agency (EPA) has adopted rules concerning the disposal of NORM. The EPA has not adopted the rules. The bill repeals this prohibition and requires the state board to adopt rules, which must also regulate technologically enhanced NORM (TENORM), by December 31, 2020. Before the rules are adopted, the department of public health and environment is required to: Convene a stakeholder group to discuss the development of rules; and Prepare a report and a detailed summary of the stakeholder process and provide them to the general assembly by December 31, 2019. Until the rules become effective, the handling, transportation, beneficial use, and disposal of TENORM is governed by guidance, including specified letters, issued by the department. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

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