Minnesota Agencies

The council's duty is to monitor the federal high-level radioactive waste disposal program under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, Public Law Number 97-425 and advise the governor and the legislature on all policy issues relating to the federal high-level radioactive waste disposal program.

The council may create advisory task forces under section 15.014, as are necessary to carry out its responsibilities.

The Nuclear Waste Council was reviewed by the Legislative Commission on Planning and Fiscal Policy (LCPFP) in 2013 as part of their biennial duty required by Minn. Stat. 3.885 Subd. 11. The LCPFP's 2013 Recommendations called for the council to be repealed, but the statutory reference to the group was not removed in 2014.

The council shall have at least nine members, consisting of:
(1) the commissioners of health, transportation, and natural resources, and the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency;
(2) four citizen members appointed by the governor;
(3) the director of the Minnesota Geological Survey;
(4) one additional citizen from each potentially impacted area may be appointed by the governor if potentially impacted areas are designated in Minnesota; and
(5) one Indian who is an enrolled member of a federally recognized Minnesota Indian tribe or band may be appointed by the governor if potentially impacted areas are designated in Minnesota and if those areas include Indian country as defined in United States Code, title 18, section 11.54.

At least two members of the council must have expertise in the earth sciences.

The council terminates when the department of energy eliminates Minnesota from further siting consideration for disposal of high-level radioactive waste.