Barrasso Releases Discussion Draft Legislation to Address Nuclear Waste - Press Releases - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works

Barrasso Releases Discussion Draft Legislation to Address Nuclear Waste - Press Releases - U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2019 discussion draft. The discussion draft provides practical reforms to the nation’s nuclear waste management policy to ensure the federal government’s legal obligations to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste are fulfilled.

“Nuclear energy is critical if we are going to reduce carbon emissions in a meaningful way,” said Barrasso. “Last Congress, bipartisan legislation to support America’s nuclear innovators was passed and signed into law. The law of the land requires Washington to take responsibility to manage and dispose of spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste is currently stored in 39 states across the country. It’s time for Washington to fulfill its long-overdue promise to permanently and safely dispose of spent nuclear fuel.

“My draft legislation takes commonsense steps to advance the licensing of the Yucca Mountain facility. The legislation also strengthens the nation’s nuclear waste manage