ANS Nuclear Policy Wire June 29, 2017 Onwards and Upwards

June 29, 2017

News Onwards and Upwards   The House Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday advanced H.R. 3053, the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2017, out of committee by a 49-4 vote. Next up is a vote on the House floor.    Among other priorities, the bill would reform the Nuclear Waste Fund by ceasing fee collection until a decision on Yucca authorization has been issued by the NRC. The bill also makes funding available from the NWF to the Secretary of Energy without further appropriation beginning on the date that Yucca recieves its first shipment of high-level waste or spent fuel, and for 25 years after, to assist in construction and operating costs, to make payments to the State of Nevada, and for eventual decommissioning costs.    The bill would also:  Appoint a five-year fixed-term program director at DOE to ensure program continuity Authorize DOE to contract with a non-federal entity for interm spent fuel storage Authorize "land withdrawal" for a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain Direct DOE to take ownership of spent nuclear fuel when accepted for transport to an interim storage facility.