This bill addresses the storage and disposal of nuclear waste.
Among other things, the bill
directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to initiate a program to consolidate and temporarily store commercial spent nuclear fuel during the development, construction, and operation of a permanent nuclear waste repository;
addresses federal land withdrawal and related management issues, including the permanent withdrawal of specific federal land for repository use by DOE;
updates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing process and conditions for the permanent repository;
limits activities relating to developing a separate defense waste repository used for storing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel derived from the atomic energy defense activities of DOE;
authorizes DOE to enter into agreements to provide benefits to state, local, and tribal governments that might host or be affected by facilities related to storing nuclear waste;
revises the method by which DOE funds its nuclear waste management activities though the collection and usage of the Nuclear Waste Fund;
creates an Office of Spent Nuclear Fuel within DOE; and
requires DOE to establish a Stranded Nuclear Waste Task Force to study existing resources and funding for communities that contain stranded nuclear waste and develop economic adjustment plans for such communities.
Actions
Nov 20, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.