Section 31-13-6. Bonding licensees

   (a) The Department of Natural Resources may require the posting of a bond not to exceed $5 million by an existing general or specific licensee by amendment to an existing license or by a person making an application for a new general or specific license, in order to assure the availability of funds to the state in the event of abandonment, insolvency, or other inability of a licensee to meet the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources for the safe collection and disposition of sources of ionizing radiation from radioactive material in the event of an accident, discontinuance of operation, or any circumstance which results in a potential radiation hazard at a site occupied by the licensee or formerly under its possession, ownership, or control. The Department of Natural Resources is authorized to establish, by rule or regulation, the bonding requirements by classes of licensees and by range of monetary amounts not to exceed $5 million. In establishing such requirements, the Department of Natural Resources shall give due consideration to the probable extent of contamination, the amount of possible property damage, the costs of removal and disposal of radioactive material used by the licensee, and the costs of reclamation of the property in the event of abandonment, insolvency, or other inability of the licensee to perform such services to the satisfaction of the Department of Natural Resources; provided, however, that a bond not less than $5 million shall be required for any licensee offering commercial radiation sterilization services, excluding hospitals, blood banks, and physicians' offices.

(b) The Department of Natural Resources shall have authority upon finding that conditions under this Code section have not been met or when it determines that an imminent hazard to the public health and welfare exists to require forfeiture of the bond and use the money therefrom to take any action deemed necessary to protect the public health and welfare.

(c) A licensee who abandons a site or facility without taking the required actions to meet the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) Any bonding or financial protection requirements established by the Department of Natural Resources pursuant to this Code section shall not apply to the state or any agency of the state.

Ga. L. 1979, p. 1059, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 711, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1411, § 1.