Sec. 16-19m. Decommissioning of nuclear power generating facilities. Definitions. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 16-19m. Decommissioning of nuclear power generating facilities. Definitions. As used in sections 16-19m to 16-19q, inclusive:

      (1) "Closing" means the time at which a nuclear power generating facility ceases to generate electricity and is retired from active service.

      (2) "Decommissioning" means the series of activities undertaken beginning at the time of closing of a nuclear power generating facility to ensure that the final disposition of the site or any radioactive components or material, but not including spent fuel, associated with the facility is accomplished safely, in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. Decommissioning includes activities undertaken to prepare such a facility for final disposition, to monitor and maintain it after closing and to effect final disposition of any radioactive components of the facility.

      (3) "Decommissioning costs" means: (A) All reasonable costs and expenses of removing a nuclear power generating facility from service, including, without limitation, dismantling, mothballing, removing radioactive waste material, except spent fuel, to temporary or permanent storage sites, decontaminating, restoring and supervising the site, and any costs and expenses incurred in connection with proceedings before governmental regulatory authorities relating to the authorization to decommission the facility; (B) all costs of labor and services performed or rendered in connection with the decommissioning of the facility, and all costs of materials, supplies, machinery, construction equipment and apparatus acquired for or in connection with the decommissioning of the facility. Any amount, exclusive of proceeds of insurance, realized by a licensee as salvage on or resale of any machinery, construction equipment and apparatus, the cost of which was charged as a decommissioning cost, shall be treated as a deduction from the amounts otherwise payable on account of the cost of decommissioning of the facility; and (C) all overhead costs applicable to the facility during the decommissioning period, including, but not limited to, taxes, other than taxes on or in respect of income; licenses; excises and assessments; casualties; surety bond premiums and insurance premiums, provided amounts expended or to be paid with respect to decommissioning a facility shall constitute part of the decommissioning costs if they are, or when paid will be, either properly chargeable to any account related to decommissioning of a facility in accordance with the systems of accounts then applicable to the licensee, or properly chargeable to decommissioning of a facility in accordance with then applicable regulations of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any other regulatory agency having jurisdiction.

      (4) "Licensee" means (A) the holder of the construction or operating permit from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a nuclear power generating facility located in the state, if there is only one holder of such a permit, or (B) if there are two or more holders of such a permit, those holders which are primarily responsible for the construction or operation of the facility.

      (5) "Owner" means any electric utility which owns any portion of a nuclear power generating facility whether directly or through ownership of stock in a company which owns any portion of such a facility.

      (6) "Electric utility" means (A) any domestic electric company, as defined in section 16-246a, (B) any foreign electric company, as defined in said section, (C) any municipal electric utility organized under chapter 101, and (D) any municipal electric energy cooperative organized under chapter 101a.

      (7) "Premature closing" means the closing of a nuclear power generating facility before the projected date of decommissioning as projected in the decommissioning financing plan prepared under section 16-19n.

      (8) "Prompt removal and dismantlement" means the immediate removal of radioactive or radioactively contaminated material down to allowable residual levels which permit release of the property for unrestricted access.

      (P.A. 83-343, S. 1; P.A. 01-195, S. 122, 181.)

      History: P.A. 01-195 substituted "16-19q" for "16-19r" in the introductory clause and made technical changes in Subdivs. (4) and (6), effective July 11, 2001.