House Energy and Commerce Committee advances nuclear waste management bill

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce recently approved the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017 by a 49-4 vote.

The bill includes provisions to advance the Yucca Mountain project and enable the Department of Energy (DOE) to fund and advance privately-owned consolidated interim storage facilities in certain situations.

“Many of the key provisions in this legislation are consistent with NEI’s policy principles that outline the basic elements of an integrated and permanent used nuclear fuel management strategy,” Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) President and CEO Maria Korsnick, said. “The nuclear industry appreciates the dedicated bipartisan work that took place to produce today’s vote and we hope to see the legislation move to the House floor swiftly.”

Currently, 34 states have paid more than $160 million to DOE to dispose of commercial spent nuclear fuel, full committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said. Congress cleared the Yucca Mountain project site in 2002, but the project has since been delayed.

“We commend the leadership of Chairman Walden, Environment Subcommittee Chairman Shimkus, and Ranking Member Pallone in seeking comprehensive bipartisan solutions for used nuclear fuel management,” Korsnick said. “Today’s vote of 49-4 is a positive first step towards solving a long overdue issue.”