Maryland Environment Section 8-402

      (a)      Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Department may not issue or renew a specific license unless the applicant demonstrates to the Department that there is storage or disposal capacity available inside or outside of this State for any low-level nuclear waste that the applicant may generate.

      (b)      This section does not apply:

            (1)      To the extent that the Department is authorized to issue a specific license under:

                  (i)      An interstate compact or executive agreement made under § 7-227 of this article;

                  (ii)      A rule or regulation adopted under § 8-403 of this subtitle; or

                  (iii)      An executive order issued under § 8-406 of this subtitle;

            (2)      To renewal of any license originally issued before January 1, 1986;

            (3)      To any facility that generated low-level nuclear waste before January 1, 1986;

            (4)      To any hospital, medical, or educational facility; or

            (5)      To any low-level nuclear waste, if, under standards adopted by rule or regulation, the Department finds that:

                  (i)      The half-life or specific activity of the low-level nuclear waste is such that, within a period of not more than 6 months, the low-level nuclear waste will not require special handling, special subsurface disposal, or special storage; and

                  (ii)      The low-level nuclear waste can be disposed of safely in the same manner as other hazardous substances or handled as conventional waste.