August 24, 2026
Ms. Lee of Nevada (for herself and Mr. Horsford) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To terminate the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding and require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit to Congress a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A)
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and
(C)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
(2) Commission
The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(3) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
(4) Yucca Mountain site
The term Yucca Mountain site has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
Sec. 3. Termination of the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding
(a) Repeals
(1) Nuclear Waste Policy Act provision
(A) In general
Section 160 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10172) is repealed.
(B) Clerical amendment
The table of contents in section 1 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (Public Law 97–425; 96 Stat. 2201, 101 Stat. 1330–255) is amended by striking the item relating to section 160.
(2) Public Law 107–200
Public Law 107–200 (42 U.S.C. 10135 note; 116 Stat. 735) is repealed.
(b) Termination
Effective on the date of enactment of this Act—
(1)
the application for a construction authorization for a repository at the Yucca Mountain site filed with the Commission by the Secretary is withdrawn; and
(2)
the Commission licensing proceeding for the proposed repository at the Yucca Mountain site is terminated.
(c) Prohibition on future consideration
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not consider (or reconsider) the Yucca Mountain site for the location of a repository.
(d) Reclamation and mitigation
As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall take all reasonable and necessary steps—
(1)
to reclaim the Yucca Mountain site; and
(2)
to mitigate any significant adverse environmental impacts caused by site characterization and other activities associated with the filing of the application for a construction authorization referred to in subsection (b)(1).
Sec. 4. Study on the economic benefit of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available to the public, a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site as described in the report of the Government Accountability Office numbered GAO–11–847 and dated September 2011, including—
(1)
defense activities, such as a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems;
(2)
the development of renewable energy sources; and
(3)
scientific research.