Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for the interim storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H. R. 10227 is like a plan for safely keeping the leftovers from nuclear power plants in special places until they find a permanent home, making sure everyone agrees on where to put them and how to spend the money wisely.
Summary AI
H. R. 10227 aims to create a program, led by the Secretary of Energy, for the temporary storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. It proposes amendments to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to encourage the establishment of storage facilities, detailing the procedures for site selection and agreements with states and tribal authorities. The bill also sets guidelines for prioritizing certain types of waste for storage and includes limitations on fee collection related to waste disposal until certain conditions are met. Additionally, it outlines funding provisions for the implementation of the storage program.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the “Storage and Transportation Of Residual and Excess Nuclear Fuel Act of 2024,” aims to address the interim storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel in the United States. By amending the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the legislation directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for siting, constructing, and operating storage facilities. It further outlines definitions, guidelines for proposals, site selection processes, and cooperative agreements with local governments and tribes. The bill also involves consent-based site approval and limits on fee collection for nuclear waste management.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several important issues arise from the bill's provisions:
Vague Prioritization Criteria: The definition of “priority waste” is somewhat ambiguous, which might lead to prioritization challenges in selecting which nuclear waste will be stored first. This could impact communities near storage sites or those with inactive reactors.
Site Suitability and Discretion: The criteria for determining the suitability of a site are not well-defined, granting the Secretary significant discretion. This discretion might lack transparency and could result in arbitrary decisions.
Broad Cooperative Agreements: The conditions allowing the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements are expansive, risking inconsistent application or favoritism, which could affect equitable community engagement in site selection.
Consent-based Approval Challenges: The consent-based approval process may lead to cumbersome amendments if circumstances change, restricting flexibility for communities and stakeholders to adjust to new information.
Financial Transparency and Limitations: The bill lacks clarity regarding financial management, such as costs related to "emergency deliveries" and the broader fiscal implications, leaving questions about the financial sustainability of the proposed actions.
Fee Collection Delays: The restriction on fee collection until a repository construction decision could indefinitely delay funding for nuclear waste management if the Commission postpones its decision.
Public Impact
The implementation of this bill could have broad public implications:
Nuclear Waste Management: The establishment of interim storage sites might enhance the safety and management of nuclear waste, reducing risks associated with on-site storage at nuclear facilities.
Environmental and Public Safety Concerns: Communities near prospective storage sites may face concerns over safety, health risks, and environmental impacts. Clearer definitions and criteria might help mitigate such tensions.
Economic Considerations: The activities outlined in the bill could create economic opportunities related to the construction and operation of storage facilities but may also impose financial constraints related to community consent and agreements.
Stakeholder Impact
Local Communities and Tribes: Those near proposed sites are directly affected by decisions regarding the siting and operation of storage facilities. The bill's emphasis on consent-based approval aims to provide a voice to these stakeholders, though ambiguities and broad discretion may complicate effective engagement.
Nuclear Power Industry: Operators of nuclear facilities might benefit from relieved pressure to manage on-site waste storage, especially if facilities have ceased operation. However, uncertainties about fee collection might impact long-term financial planning.
Environmental Activists: Groups advocating for stringent safeguards in nuclear waste management might view the bill's provisions positively, although they may call for greater transparency and rigor in determining site suitability and prioritization.
In summary, while the bill seeks to address critical issues in nuclear waste management, challenges in implementation, prioritization, and stakeholder engagement must be carefully navigated to ensure the equitable and efficient advancement of its goals.
Issues
The priority given to 'priority waste' in sections 2 and 191 is somewhat vague, potentially leading to ambiguity in determining what qualifies as priority waste, which could result in prioritization issues affecting communities near storage facilities or those with closed reactors (Sections 2, 191).
The criteria for the 'suitability' of a site for storage facility evaluation in Section 191 are not entirely clear and leave significant discretion to the Secretary, risking lack of transparency and potentially arbitrary site selections (Section 191).
The conditions for entering into a 'cooperative agreement' in Section 191 are broad, allowing substantial discretion for the Secretary, which could lead to inconsistent application or favoritism and thus could affect how communities are engaged in site selection processes (Section 191).
The 'consent-based approval' process described in Section 191 may result in cumbersome amendments or revocations of agreements if circumstances change, potentially limiting flexibility for communities to adapt to new information or conditions (Section 191).
The potential financial implications and lack of clarity in budget considerations or fiscal limitations in Section 2 could result in substantial costs, with little transparency on how these costs will be managed or limited (Section 2).
In Section 3, the bill does not specify what happens if the Commission indefinitely delays issuing a final decision on construction authorization for a repository, which could lead to prolonged suspension of fee collection, affecting funding for nuclear waste management activities (Section 3).
In Section 190, the text does not specify the cost implications or management of costs related to 'emergency delivery', leading to potential wasteful spending if not properly regulated (Section 190).
The bill’s definitions and responsibilities in Sections 2 and 190 are complex, making it difficult for those without legal or technical expertise to understand implications, potentially limiting public engagement or oversight (Sections 2, 190).
The inclusion of vague terms such as 'reasonable comparative evaluation' and 'any other criteria' in Section 191 could lead to inconsistent or arbitrary decision-making, raising ethical concerns about fairness and transparency in site selection (Section 191).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this act establishes its official title: it may be referred to as the "Storage and Transportation Of Residual and Excess Nuclear Fuel Act of 2024" or simply the "STORE Nuclear Fuel Act of 2024".
2. Interim storage Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section adds a new subtitle to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, which outlines the establishment of a program by the Secretary for interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. This program allows for the siting, construction, and operation of storage facilities, and encourages cooperative agreements with local governments and tribes, aiming for consent-based site selection and prioritizing certain types of waste.
190. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines several key terms related to nuclear waste management: a "contract holder" is someone involved in disposing of spent nuclear fuel; "emergency delivery" refers to nuclear waste accepted ahead of schedule due to special circumstances; "priority waste" includes emergency deliveries and waste from reactors that are no longer operational; and a "storage facility" is a place where nuclear waste is kept temporarily.
191. Program for storage facilities Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines a program established by the Secretary for the management of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel storage facilities, including agreements for interim storage and guidelines for selecting suitable sites. It details the process for issuing requests for proposals, reviewing them, selecting sites, and obtaining consent-based approval from states, local governments, and affected Indian tribes.
3. Limitation on collection of fees Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to specify that the Secretary is not allowed to collect certain fees related to nuclear waste management until a final decision is made on whether to approve or disapprove a construction authorization for a waste repository.
4. Funding Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section describes amendments to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, with changes to paragraph (5) of section 302(d), replacing certain punctuation, and introducing new provisions. These new provisions include conducting specific activities related to nuclear waste under subtitle I of title I, limiting expenditure to 25% of the interest from the Fund, and entering consent agreements mentioned in section 191(e)(4).