Biennial report on the spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste inventory in the United States

Source Credit

(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) High-level radioactive waste
The term "high-level radioactive waste" has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
(2) Spent nuclear fuel
The term "spent nuclear fuel" has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).
(3) Standard contract
The term "standard contract" has the meaning given the term "contract" in section 961.3 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(b) Report
Not later than January 1, 2026, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to Congress a report that describes—
(1) the annual and cumulative amount of payments made by the United States to the holder of a standard contract due to a partial breach of contract under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) resulting in financial damages to the holder;
(2) the cumulative amount spent by the Department of Energy since fiscal year 2008 to reduce future payments projected to be made by the United States to any holder of a standard contract due to a partial breach of contract under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.);
(3) the cumulative amount spent by the Department of Energy to store, manage, and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States as of the date of the report;
(4) the projected lifecycle costs to store, manage, transport, and dispose of the projected inventory of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in the United States, including spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste expected to be generated from existing reactors through 2050;
(5) any mechanisms for better accounting of liabilities for the lifecycle costs of the spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste inventory in the United States;
(6) any recommendations for improving the methods used by the Department of Energy for the accounting of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste costs and liabilities;
(7) any actions taken in the previous fiscal year by the Department of Energy with respect to interim storage; and
(8) any activities taken in the previous fiscal year by the Department of Energy to develop and deploy nuclear technologies and fuels that enhance the safe transportation or storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste, including technologies to protect against seismic, flooding, and other extreme weather events.

History

(Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title IV, §403, July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1468.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

References in Text
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), (2), is Pub. L. 97–425, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2201, which is classified generally to chapter 108 (§10101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

Codification
Section was enacted as part of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024, also known as the ADVANCE Act of 2024, and not as part of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 which comprises this chapter.