Nuclear Waste Informed Consent

Summary#

This bill says the Secretary of Energy cannot spend money from the Nuclear Waste Fund for certain repository activities unless specific local approvals are in place. The bill requires a written, signed, and binding agreement before those expenditures. The agreement must be with the Governor of the State where the repository is proposed, each affected unit of local government, any contiguous unit of general local government if waste will be transported through it, and each affected Indian tribe. The bill uses the definitions in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 for terms such as "affected Indian tribe" and "repository." It also says the agreements may only be changed or ended if all parties agree in writing.

What it means for you#

  • If a repository is proposed in your state or local area, your State Governor and local leaders must sign a written agreement before the Energy Department spends fund money for the repository activities named in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.
  • If spent fuel or high-level waste would be moved through a nearby local area, the leaders of that area must also be part of the agreement.
  • If you are a member of an affected Indian tribe, your tribe must be included and must consent in writing.
  • If you do not live in a proposed repository area or along a transport route, the bill may not have a direct effect on you.

Expenses#

The bill blocks certain expenditures from the Nuclear Waste Fund until the required agreements are in place. The text refers to expenditures for activities listed in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 302(d) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. No publicly available information in the provided material describes the amounts, timing, or broader fiscal effects of those expenditures.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided material states the sponsors' or supporters' arguments or rationale for the bill.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the provided material states opponents' arguments or objections to the bill.