N.Y. Public Health Law § 1360: Location and disposition of radioactive gold jewelry

* § 1360. Location and disposition of radioactive gold jewelry. 1.

The commissioner is hereby authorized and directed to establish a

program, which shall include the use of such investigations and

personnel as may be necessary, to identify gold jewelry which has been

contaminated by radioactive material which is, or may be, possessed by

residents of this state. Such program shall be publicized by the

commissioner, as may be practicable, to encourage residents to have such

suspected radioactive gold jewelry tested free of charge, except that

jewelers, manufacturers or distributors of gold jewelry may be charged a

reasonable fee for the cost of such tests, as determined by the

commissioner.

2. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, in any case where

such gold jewelry is so identified as radioactive, the commissioner is

hereby authorized and empowered to purchase from a resident on behalf of

the state such radioactive gold jewelry presented by such resident at

the commercial value of the gold content of the radioactive gold

jewelry, upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner deems

necessary and proper, and within the amount appropriated by the

legislature for this purpose.

3. Any such gold jewelry, purchased pursuant to the provisions of this

section, shall be held decontaminated or disposed of in such a manner as

shall be determined necessary and proper by the commissioner which

disposition, however, may include, but not be limited to, the

destruction thereof.

4. Any person, firm, association or corporation who learns that they

possess radioactive gold jewelry shall immediately notify the

commissioner or his designee of the existence of such radioactive gold

jewelry.

* NB Expired July 21, 1982