S 2917

Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019

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.