A South Dakota legislative committee on Thursday approved a bill that would clear the way for the state to sign an agreement to take over inspection and licensing responsibilities for nuclear material from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The bill, introduced in January by State Rep. Mike Weisgram (R), is cruising through the state legislature. The full South Dakota Senate could vote on the bill as soon as this week. The full House approved it Jan. 18, 61-7.
South Dakota’s 2024 legislative session began Jan. 9 and was scheduled to end March 25.
South Dakota remains one of 10 U.S. jurisdictions that do not yet have an agreement with the NRC that allows a state, territory or district take on the day-to-day work of regulating nuclear power and materials. States with such agreements must have standards that are at least as strict as the NRC’s.
