January 15, 2025
Ms. Titus (for herself, Mr. Horsford, and Ms. Lee of Nevada) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To require the Secretary of Energy to obtain the consent of affected State and local governments before making an expenditure from the Nuclear Waste Fund for a nuclear waste repository, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act, the terms affected Indian tribe, affected unit of local government, high-level radioactive waste, repository, Secretary, spent nuclear fuel, and unit of general local government have the meanings given the terms in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
Sec. 3. Consent-based approval
(a) In general
The Secretary may not make an expenditure from the Nuclear Waste Fund established under section 302(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10222(c)) for the costs of the activities described in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 302(d) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 10222(d)) unless the Secretary has entered into an agreement for a repository with—
(1)
the Governor of the State in which the repository is proposed to be located;
(2)
each affected unit of local government;
(3)
any unit of general local government contiguous to the affected unit of local government if spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste will be transported through that unit of general local government for disposal at the repository; and
(4)
each affected Indian tribe.
(b) Conditions on agreement
Any agreement for a repository under this Act—
(1)
shall be in writing and signed by all parties;
(2)
shall be binding on the parties; and
(3)
shall not be amended or revoked except by mutual agreement of the parties.