The provided section outlines the "Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024," detailing the Act's structure through a table of contents. It includes various titles such as the establishment of a Nuclear Waste Administration, defining its functions and responsibilities, overseeing funding and legal proceedings, and providing administrative and operational provisions related to nuclear waste management.

Congress acknowledges that the Federal Government is responsible for disposing of nuclear waste, designating Yucca Mountain as the site for its repository but later deemed it unsuitable. A commission proposed creating a new organization and approach for managing nuclear waste.

The section outlines the goals of the Act, which are to create a new organization for managing nuclear waste, transfer existing responsibilities from the Secretary under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to this new organization, establish a new process for determining the locations of nuclear waste facilities, ensure there are storage facilities for nuclear waste until a permanent repository is completed, and make sure that those who generate and own nuclear waste are responsible for covering the full costs associated with the program while ensuring funds are used appropriately.

This section of the Act provides definitions for key terms used throughout the law, like Administration, which refers to the Nuclear Waste Administration, and nuclear waste, which includes spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. It also defines terms related to storage and disposal facilities, governmental entities, and relevant agreements involved in managing nuclear waste.

The section clarifies that although the term “nuclear waste” is used in the Act to refer to high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, it does not imply that spent nuclear fuel is considered waste for this or any other law, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976.

The section establishes a new independent agency called the "Nuclear Waste Administration" within the executive branch. Its purposes are to handle the permanent disposal of nuclear waste, safeguard public health and the environment, and ensure that the costs are covered by those who produce the waste.

The section outlines the roles and responsibilities of the Nuclear Waste Administrator and Deputy Administrator, emphasizing their appointments, terms, duties, compensations, and authority in managing the Administration. The Administrator is appointed by the President with Senate approval for a six-year term and can delegate duties, while the Deputy is appointed by the Administrator to assist and act in their absence.

The section outlines the creation of specific officer roles within the Administration, including a General Counsel, a Chief Financial Officer, and up to three Assistant Administrators. These officers are appointed by the Administrator, considered career appointees, and their succession order during the Administrator’s absence is determined by the Administrator.

The section outlines that the President will appoint an Inspector General for the Administration, with approval from the Senate, following the rules in section 403 of title 5 of the U.S. Code.

The Nuclear Waste Oversight Board is created as an independent establishment to monitor the management of nuclear waste funds, ensure proper fee collection, and oversee the Administrator's performance regarding contracts and plans. It consists of five members appointed by the President, with limitations on political party membership and term lengths, and is responsible for making recommendations to ensure the implementation of nuclear waste policies.

The section makes changes to U.S. law by adding the Nuclear Waste Administration to the list of government entities mentioned in two parts of the U.S. Code. Specifically, it is added under Section 901(b)(2) of Title 31 and Section 401 of Title 5.

The section transfers all responsibilities connected to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 from the Secretary to the Administrator. These responsibilities involve building and managing nuclear waste storage facilities, managing contracts and fees related to nuclear waste disposal, and overseeing the Nuclear Waste Fund.

The section states that any contract for disposing of nuclear waste that was entered into by the Secretary before this new law was enacted will remain valid. However, the duties and responsibilities that were previously assigned to the Secretary will now be handled by the Administrator.

The Administrator is responsible for handling nuclear waste by building and managing both temporary storage facilities and permanent disposal sites. They must ensure that efforts for both types of facilities are conducted simultaneously and integrated effectively.

The text outlines the process for deciding where to locate nuclear waste facilities. It emphasizes community involvement in the decision-making, openness to public input, flexibility in response to new information or changes, and adherence to scientific and safety standards. Additionally, the construction of a facility at Yucca Mountain requires a binding agreement with Nevada's governor and local governments.

The section details the establishment and operation of a storage program for nuclear waste by the Administrator in partnership with non-Federal entities. It includes steps for site selection, reviewing proposals, obtaining licenses, and entering cooperative agreements, while prioritizing safety and community consent.

The text details the process for selecting, evaluating, and approving sites for nuclear waste repositories. It outlines steps such as issuing guidelines, identifying and characterizing candidate sites, holding public hearings, entering into consent agreements with local and tribal authorities, and ultimately submitting a license application for suitable sites.

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is required to create new standards to prevent radioactive material from escaping into the environment from storage sites within one year of the law being passed. Additionally, a commission must update the criteria and requirements for the operation of these storage sites.

The section explains that building and running a nuclear waste storage facility has to follow all environmental safety standards, meet all licensing and regulatory rules of the Commission, and adhere to any consent agreements made under specific sections of the law.

The section outlines that the Secretary is responsible for coordinating the disposal and potential storage of defense waste with the Administrator, funded by the Federal Government, and kept separate from civilian nuclear waste unless reevaluation allows commingling. It mandates establishing a memorandum of agreement, ensuring funds are available for storage or disposal, and considering separate facilities if deemed efficient.

The section outlines the responsibilities of the Administrator in transporting nuclear waste, which includes moving it from various sites to storage or disposal facilities, adhering to all transportation rules, and ensuring that only certified packages are used. It also details providing advance notice to states and Indian Tribes, educating the public, training emergency responders, offering equipment and safety support, and ensuring assistance is provided well in advance of transporting nuclear waste through any jurisdiction.

The section establishes a separate fund called the "Nuclear Waste Administration Working Capital Fund" in the Treasury for managing nuclear waste-related finances, comprising fees, congressional appropriations, and interest. This fund will be available for the Administrator to carry out relevant functions and must be operated within specified guidelines and limitations such as no additional fees after 2037 unless a nuclear waste facility is operational.

The section amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to correct a wording error, changing "insure" to "ensure," and avoids a veto on certain transmissions. Additionally, it directs that any interest earned on the balance of the Nuclear Waste Fund will be allocated to the Working Capital Fund for use by the Administrator.

The section outlines that, to ensure full cost recovery for nuclear waste management, the Administrator must assume there will be enough funds allocated for the disposal of defense waste and consider any extra costs brought by the new law.

The section explains that the United States Courts of Appeals have the authority to hear lawsuits related to decisions or actions made under this Act. These include reviewing final decisions, assessing failures to act, constitutional challenges, and evaluating environmental assessments. The suits must generally be filed within 180 days of the decision, but if someone was unaware of the decision, they can file within 180 days of finding out.

The section explains that the Attorney General will oversee the Administration's legal proceedings and can allow its attorneys to handle civil cases in any federal court, except for the Supreme Court.

The section outlines the transition of legal responsibilities and contract management relating to nuclear waste from the Secretary to a new Administrator. It specifies that existing legal cases won't be affected by the transition, allows for settling claims, modifies contracts, ensures payment of related settlements, restricts new contracts until proper licensing is obtained, and mandates indemnification agreements for those handling nuclear waste under contracts.

The Administrator has the authority to take over the responsibilities of the Secretary, make agreements about handling nuclear waste, collaborate with different organizations, acquire property for nuclear waste facilities, use services from the General Services Administration, conduct necessary research, and create rules needed to perform their duties.

The Administrator is given the authority to appoint officers and employees necessary for the Administration, set their pay according to civil service laws, and make exceptions for highly qualified individuals in critical positions. The Administrator can also hire experts temporarily, form advisory committees for assistance, and cover travel expenses for advisory members who are not full-time federal employees.

The section explains that the main office of the Administration must be located in or near Washington, D.C. Additionally, the Administrator has the authority to set up other offices as needed to perform their duties.

The section outlines the responsibilities of the Administrator to create a mission plan, which includes providing information for decision-making and performance oversight, detailing actions with timelines by specific dates, and estimating budget needs from Congress. It also specifies that the plan must be shared for comments with various stakeholders, undergo public review, and be revised to address feedback before final submission, with updates made as necessary for any major changes.

The section requires the Administrator to prepare and submit an annual report to Congress, the President, and the Oversight Board detailing the Administration's activities and expenses. This report must also include a management report as specified by U.S. law and any audit results of the Administration's financial statements.

The section outlines that ongoing legal processes to build a repository at Yucca Mountain will not be affected by this new law, but further action on the site requires specific conditions. It clarifies the responsibilities of the Secretary of Energy, including handling and researching nuclear waste, while the authority over untransferred functions related to repository siting, construction, and operation ends with the law's enactment.

The section outlines actions for technical assistance in spent fuel storage and disposal, requiring annual updates of a joint notice by the Secretary and the Commission, informing foreign governments about cooperation opportunities, and requesting funding from the President for such efforts through 2027. It also allows collaboration with nuclear weapon states if it's deemed in the national interest, overriding certain restrictions from previous laws.

The amendments to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 involve several changes, such as recognizing the Nuclear Waste Administration alongside the Department of Energy, changing the term "Secretary" to "Nuclear Waste Administrator" in references to document production, and updating reporting requirements to include the Nuclear Waste Administrator and the Nuclear Waste Oversight Board. Additionally, the term "Secretary" is replaced with "Nuclear Waste Administrator" in the section related to termination.

The volume limits set by a specific section of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 do not apply to a waste repository if there is an agreement that allows for the disposal of a larger amount of waste.