TRANSPORTATION OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE

RSA tit. VIII, ch. 107-D

in effect

RSA 107-D:1 Definitions.

107-D:1. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the term: I. "Carrier" means any person engaged in the transportation on the public roads or by water or by railroads in this state of goods or property in, to, or through this state, whether or not such transportation is for hire. II. "Cask" means a package certified by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the transportation of irradiated reactor fuel or high-level radioactive waste. III. "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the department of safety. IV. "Department" means the department of safety. V. "High-level radioactive waste" means: (a) The highly radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of irradiated reactor fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products in sufficient concentrations; (b) The highly radioactive material resulting from atomic energy defense activities; and (c) Any other highly radioactive material, greater than class C in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule requires permanent isolation. VI. "Person" includes any individual, corporation, partnership, association, state, municipality, political subdivision of a state, and any agency or instrumentality of the United States government or any other entity and includes any officer, agent, or employee of any of the above. VII. "Shipper" means any person who arranges for, provides for, solicits a carrier for, consigns to a carrier for, or contracts with a carrier for shipment or transport of goods or property. VIII. "Irradiated reactor fuel" means irradiated reactor fuel in accordance with Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:2 Transportation of High-Level Radioactive Waste; Requirements; Rulemaking.

107-D:2. Transportation of High-Level Radioactive Waste; Requirements; Rulemaking. I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any carrier transporting high-level radioactive waste shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter. II. No person, including the state or any agency thereof, shall transport high-level radioactive waste in, to, or through this state on the public roads of this state or by water or by any railroad in this state, whether or not the transportation originated in this state; nor shall any person deliver in this state any high-level radioactive waste to any person for transportation; nor shall any such person accept any high-level radioactive waste for transportation in this state without compliance with the following requirements: (a) Such high-level radioactive waste shall be packaged, marked, labeled, handled, loaded, unloaded, stored, detained, transported, placarded, and monitored in compliance with rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A and consistent with federal law. (b) Compliance with any rules shall be in addition to and supplemental of other regulations of the United States Department of Transportation, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and any other laws or rules of an agency of this state, applicable to such persons. III. The commissioner shall adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A such that no person shall arrange for the transportation of or cause to be transported in, to, or through this state on the public roads or by water or by any railroad in this state any high-level radioactive waste unless such person shall notify the commissioner or designee in accordance with such rules. IV. Knowledge by a shipper that a carrier proposes to transport high-level radioactive waste in or through this state on the public roads or by water or by railroad in this state shall be sufficient contact with this state to subject such shipper to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state with respect to such transport. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:3 Permit Required.

107-D:3. Permit Required. I. No transportation of high-level radioactive waste shall take place in or through this state until the commissioner or designee issues a permit authorizing the applicant to operate or move upon the state's public roads, waters, or railways a motor vehicle, combination of vehicles, vessels, or rail carrier which carry high-level radioactive wastes. The commissioner or designee may recommend changes to the United States Department of Energy in the proposed dates, times, routes, detention, holding, or storage of such materials during transport as necessary to maximize protection of the public health, safety, or welfare, or of the environment. The commissioner is authorized to adopt reasonable rules which are necessary or desirable in governing the issuance of permits. II. The department shall require as a condition of any permit, to the extent not inconsistent with federal law, the following: (a) Each permit application and permit shall contain documentation of the carrier's federal safety rating, proof of federally required liability insurance, and a nuclear incident prevention plan and a cleanup plan acceptable to the commissioner and containing at least the following: (1) Identification of each route and shipment to which such permit is applicable; (2) Identification of emergency response personnel accompanying each shipment, and emergency response personnel and resources available along each route; (3) The name, address, and emergency response training record of emergency response personnel to accompany each shipment; and (4) Identification of foreseeable accident and shipment disruption scenarios, including worst-case scenarios, with consideration of existing studies conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Energy, or other federal agencies, and written response scenarios applicable to each such accident or disruption scenario. (b) Each permit application and permit shall specify the route to be followed for each shipment covered by such permit. Any deviation from the designated permit route shall be reported at the earliest practicable time to the department. (c) Routes identified on such applications and permits shall be consistent with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, and each route shall be the safest practicable route calculated to minimize the potential exposure of members of the public to the shipment while maximizing availability of emergency response personnel and resources along the route. The department shall conduct at least one public hearing to the extent not inconsistent with federal law on each proposed shipment route before issuing a permit. (d) Each permit application and permit shall list the number of casks of high-level radioactive waste to be shipped under said permit and shall identify the type and quantity of material contained in each cask, the origin and destination of each cask, and the identifying serial number of each cask. III. All carriers of high-level radioactive waste are required to notify the department at least 7 days prior to the transportation within this state, identifying the permit under which such waste shall be shipped and the origin, destination, and place and approximate time of entry into and exit from the state, as appropriate. IV. The commissioner or designee may issue: (a) An annual permit which shall allow vehicles, vessels, or rail carriers transporting high-level radioactive waste to be operated on the public roads, waters, or railroads in this state for 12 months from the date the permit is issued. (b) A single-trip permit to any vehicle, vessel, or rail carrier. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:4 Fees.

107-D:4. Fees. I. The department shall establish in rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A the fees for the issuance of permits. II. A fee shall be paid by the owner of the shipment for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the department in inspection, regulation, management, and training involving such shipments. III. A shipment fee for high-level radioactive waste shall be paid at least 7 days before the shipment is made, or at the time of inspections provided for in RSA 107-D:5. IV. Failure to pay the fee shall subject the carrier and the owner of the shipment to a civil action for the recovery of the amount of such fee, plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees, for which the carrier and owner shall be jointly and severally liable. Such action may be filed in the superior court of the county in which the shipment originated or in which it was or should have been inspected pursuant to RSA 107-D:5. Operating as a carrier engaged in the transportation of irradiated reactor fuel or high-level radioactive waste in this state or shipping irradiated reactor fuel or high-level radioactive waste on the public highways or by water or on the railroads of this state shall constitute submission to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state for the purposes of such an action. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:5 Inspections.

107-D:5. Inspections. All carriers transporting irradiated reactor fuel or high-level radioactive waste entering the state may be subject to inspection by personnel designated by the commissioner. Shipments may be subject to inspection at the point of origin by personnel designated by the commissioner. All such inspections shall require the carrier to conform to all applicable federal safety regulations, and in the event that the United States Department of Energy adopts the Enhanced North American Standard Inspection for Transportation of Radioactive Materials, to the requirements of those standards. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:6 Bond Required.

107-D:6. Bond Required. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a bond or indemnity insurance required of carriers shall be established in rules adopted by the commissioner pursuant to RSA 541-A and shall, for all persons subject to this chapter, whether intrastate or interstate carriers, be at least in the maximum amount or amounts authorized or required by federal law or regulations. The department shall require applicants for permits for the transportation of high-level radioactive waste, as a condition of the granting of any such permit, to verify possession of a bond or indemnity insurance in at least the amount of $25,000,000. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:7 Application; Exceptions.

107-D:7. Application; Exceptions. I. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the department is authorized to establish such exceptions or exemptions from the requirements of this chapter, or any provision hereof, for such kinds, quantities, types, or shipments of high-level radioactive waste as it shall deem appropriate, consistent with the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. II. This chapter shall not apply to transportation of radioactive materials shipped by or for the federal government for military, national security, or national defense purposes. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:8 Recovery for Damage.

107-D:8. Recovery for Damage. In the event of any damage to state property or any discharge of high-level radioactive waste from the authorized shipping package or container or any threat of such discharge which results from the transportation, storage, holding, detention, delivery for transportation, or acceptance for transportation of high-level radioactive waste in this state, the state may recover from any shipper, carrier, bailor, bailee, or any other person responsible for such storage, transportation, holding, detention, delivery, or acceptance all costs incurred by the state in the reparation of the damage and all costs incurred in the prevention, abatement, or removal of any such discharge or threatened discharge, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred with respect to recovery. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

RSA 107-D:9 Coordination With Other Agencies.

107-D:9. Coordination With Other Agencies. The department is expressly authorized to coordinate with or to contract with the division of emergency services and communications established in RSA 21-P:48-a and with other state agencies or departments, including but not limited to the department of transportation and the department of health and human services, to perform any activities necessary to implement this chapter. Source. 1998, 151:1. 2002, 257:8. 2003, 319:124. 2004, 171:16. 2008, 361:10, eff. July 11, 2008.

RSA 107-D:10 Penalty.

107-D:10. Penalty. In addition to any other liability imposed by law, any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if a natural person or a felony if any other person. Source. 1998, 151:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.

Source: New Hampshire General Court (gc.nh.gov)URL: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-VIII-107-D.htmFetched: 10/20/2026