Bill to amend nuclear waste policy introduced in the House

A bill introduced this week in the U.S. House of Representatives would amend the nation’s policy on nuclear waste.

The Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019 (H.R. 2699) — introduced by Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and John Shimkus (R-IL) — would assist in the resolution of the pending permanent repository license to determine if the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site can be licensed and constructed. It would also direct the Department of Energy to move forward with a temporary storage program to consolidate spent nuclear fuel from sites with a decommissioned reactor while work on the Yucca Mountain repository progresses. Additionally, it would reform the financing mechanism to protect ratepayers and assure the Department of Energy (DOE) has adequate funding to construct and operate a multi-generational infrastructure project.

“Our country has a dangerous buildup of inadequately secured nuclear waste,” McNerney said. “We need a short and long-term solution for the storage and disposal of nuclear waste. This hazardous logjam puts communities at risk and inhibits our ability to integrate nuclear power into a robust emissions-reducing agenda to combat the impending threats of climate change.”

The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Scott Peters (D-CA), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Fred Upton (R-MI), Bill Keating (D-MA), Rick Allen (R-GA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Troy Bladerson (R-OH).

“This approach, which simultaneously advances interim storage and permanent disposal, is the only solution to our nation’s nuclear waste stalemate that has gone through the legislative process and earned broad bipartisan support in either chamber,” Shimkus said. “If we’re serious about reducing emissions, the reality is nuclear power must remain a robust portion of our energy portfolio. But a failure to resolve the waste issue will compromise this key component of any serious proposal to address climate change.”