NH legislature to hear bill on radiological monitoring

A bill requiring the monitoring of certain radioactive air pollutants would require the state of New Hampshire to develop an airborne radiological monitoring network in the communities surrounding Seabrook Station nuclear power plant in coastal New Hampshire. The bill is being heard before the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in room 101 of the Legislative Office Building in Concord. 

This is not the first time New Hampshire legislators have sought funding to create a monitoring network analogous to the one that provides an extra level of comfort for Massachusetts residents. SB-181 has State Senator Tom Sherman, a physician from Rye, N.H. as its lead sponsor. Sherman is also chair of the Committee on Health and Human Services.

Full bill text with sponsors is here
Committee calendar is here

While the bill doesn't mention the monitoring network that C-10 Research and Education Foundation has operated on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1993, C-10 Executive Director Natalie Hildt Treat will attend the hearing to answer questions about how C-10 monitors gamma and beta radiation as well as wind-speed and direction. This information helps state health officials track and understand permitted radiological releases, and could also be used to help emergency officials protect the public in the event of an unplanned release or accident. The public is invited to attend this hearing.