Pete Domenici and three colleagues have introduced a bill attempting, once again, to deal with the nuclear waste problem in a way that bypasses the intractable Yucca Mountain problem.

One of the central problems in the way of a "nuclear renaissance" is the persistent skepticism over the lack of a disposal pathway for waste. Recognizing that, Domenici and others have been pushing for "reprocessing" - extracting usable nuclear materials from reactor waste, reducing the amount headed for Yucca Mountain and expanding the amount of usable reactor fuel available. The news release sent out by Domenici persists in a new, greener naming convention: it's "recycling", not "reprocessing." The green language also calls the new approach "sustainable."

(As an aside, it's worth pointing out that a second big problem in the way of the renaissance is raw economics: at its best, nuclear power is still pretty darn expensive, and to the extent that we're seeing any renaissance-like activity, it remains entwined at this point with government subsidies.)

The new Domenici et al. bill includes a clever funding mechanism, using nuclear waste fund money and therefore sidestepping the politically thorny annual appropriations process. The full news release is posted below: 

DOMENICI INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO

PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

SMART Act Co-sponsored by Sessions, Landrieu and Murkowski

            WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, last night introduced bipartisan legislation that will allow America to fully realize the promise of nuclear energy by laying the foundation for a sustainable nuclear fuel cycle.

            Domenici, along with Senators Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska.) introduced the Strengthening Management of Advanced Recycling Technologies (SMART) Act (S.3215).  The legislation promotes the establishment of privately owned and operated used nuclear fuel storage and recycling facilities.

            The SMART Act establishes a competitive 50-50 cost share program between the Department of Energy (DOE) and private industry to finance engineering and design work—and the development of license applications--for up to two spent fuel recycling facilities.  The bill also establishes an economic incentive program for communities that wish to host interim storage facilities for waste.  The SMART Act authorizes DOE to offer long term contracts for spent fuel recycling services and for storage facility operators.

            “After a decade of hard work, there can now be no doubt that a nuclear renaissance is under way.  Increasing our use of nuclear energy is the only way for America to meet our increasing energy demands while at the same time reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.  A sustainable nuclear fuel cycle is the key to nuclear energy reaching its full potential.  I’m pleased to introduce this legislation which takes the first step toward resolving the question of nuclear waste,” Domenici said.

“Nuclear recycling will help us permanently and safely dispose of spent fuel while simultaneously increasing the amount of nuclear material available to generate base load power.  In the past, the issue of waste disposal has provided an argument to object to expanding nuclear power, and I’m hopeful this legislation will jump-start recycling in America – leading to more clean, reliable nuclear power here at home.  It is time the United States caught up with other nations that have demonstrated that recycling can be conducted in a safe and cost-efficient way,” Sessions said.

“Nuclear power is one of the most promising alternative technologies that can help reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy. It emits no pollutants, and does not contribute to global warming. But if we do not get serious about managing nuclear waste, the technology will not advance.  This bill will finally help resolve the nuclear waste stalemate that has paralyzed U.S. nuclear energy production for more than 30 years,” Landrieu said.

“Given how important it is for this nation to cut carbon emissions, it is vital that we tear down all the roadblocks that have slowed nuclear power’s revival. Setting up a program for the government to help the private sector develop nuclear waste recycling plants, creating a funding mechanism to pay for the work and then allowing only the communities that want the economic activity that a waste recycling plant will produce to apply are all useful steps that will help the economics of nuclear power. It will allow for the economic recycling of fuel and help reduce waste volumes and their toxicity protecting the environment,” Murkowski said.

The SMART Act is funded by allowing access to a small portion (around five percent) of the $20 billion Nuclear Waste Fund.  The bill establishes a $1 billion revolving fund, which will also receive contributions from annual interest on the Nuclear Waste Fund.  The revolving fund will allow projects to proceed without the need for annual appropriations from Congress.

--30--

SUMMARY OF S.3215, SMART ACT OF 2008

SECTION 1:       SHORT TITLE

Strengthening Management of Advanced Recycling Technologies Act of 2008

SECTION 2:       LICENSING COST SHARE PROGRAM

Authorizes the Department of Energy (DOE) to share costs with private industry for engineering design and licenses for no more than 2 commercial scale reprocessing facilities.

SECTION 3:       SPENT FUEL RECYCLING CONTRACTS

Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to enter into long term contracts with private entities to reprocess commercial spent nuclear fuel at privately funded and constructed facilities.

SECTION 4:       TEMPORARY SPENT FUEL STORAGE FACILITIES

Allows the Secretary of Energy to enter into agreements that provide benefit payments to local governments that volunteer to host privately owned and operated, Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulated spent fuel storage facilities within their jurisdiction.  Authorizes DOE to enter into long-term contracts to store spent fuel at such a facility.

SECTION 5:       FUNDING

Establishes a Nuclear Waste Revolving Fund from a small fraction of the current Nuclear Waste Fund and the interest earned on the corpus of the Fund.  Expenditures from the Revolving Fund would be available to fund geologic repository activities as well as the provisions of this act without further appropriations but subject to limitations in appropriations acts.

Establishes a Nuclear Waste Legacy Fund from the majority of the current Nuclear waste Fund and the current fees.  Expenditures from the Legacy Fund to fund geologic repository activities as well as the provisions of this act would be subject to appropriations

SECTION 6:       WASTE CONFIDENCE

Provides that the provisions of this act as well as the obligations of the Secretary of Energy to develop a repository under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act are sufficient grounds to satisfy the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s waste confidence ruling.

Your Name:

Your Email Address:

Rate this article:
Poor Great

Comment:

BOLD

"QUOTE"

UNDERLINE