The bill establishes a framework for legislative approval of the siting of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities in Montana. It authorizes such facilities to be located within the state if they are either operated on the site of a nuclear power generating facility within Montana or if they process spent nuclear fuel transported from outside the state. Additionally, the facilities must receive a state recommendation from the Department of Environmental Quality and a license from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, contingent upon the commission's rulemaking regarding spent nuclear fuel reprocessing.

The bill also amends Section 75-20-204 of the Montana Code Annotated to include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission alongside the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in the jurisdictional framework for these facilities. It requires that any application to these commissions be accompanied by a notice and a copy of the federal application to the Department of Environmental Quality, which will then provide a state recommendation based on its review. The bill includes provisions for fees associated with the application process and establishes an immediate effective date upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 75-20-204