Training emergency personnel for nuclear events will be a major part of Tennessee's securing a $20 million federal appropriation to construct two facilities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. During testimony this week in the Senate Finance Revenue Subcommittee, sponsor Sen. Ken Yager successfully amended SB1351/HB1359 (Yager, Calfee) to dedicate forgone state revenues to meet the state match requirement for the new funding. The federal-state partnership will help provide for a training and education center to support the work of the national uranium processing center in Oak Ridge, with advanced security and emergency responsiveness. The intent is to train Tennessee first responders and others across the region, as well as to provide a place for visiting scientists to hold meetings at the facility. As amended the bill now goes to the full Senate Finance Committee on March 26 for further consideration. It has not been scheduled for a hearing in the House Government Operations Committee. With this new language going on the bill, we are adding this to the list of legislation EMAT is tracking.

Click here for a bill report for 3/22/2019.