Nuclear Waste Informed Consent

Summary#

This bill, the Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act, says the Secretary of Energy cannot spend money from the Nuclear Waste Fund for certain repository activities unless the Secretary first signs a written agreement with the affected State Governor, each affected local government, any contiguous general local government that will see waste transported through it, and each affected Indian tribe. The bill refers to the activities in paragraphs (4) and (5) of section 302(d) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 for what the spending would cover. Each agreement must be written, signed by all parties, legally binding, and can only be changed if every party agrees.

What it means for you#

• If your State or local area is proposed for a nuclear waste repository, your Governor and local governments must give written, signed consent before certain federal Nuclear Waste Fund money is spent on the repository.
• If your community would see spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste transported through it to a repository, a contiguous local government must also be part of the agreement.
• Affected Indian tribes must be parties to any agreement.
• Agreements are binding and cannot be amended or revoked except by mutual consent of all signers.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on estimated costs, budget effects, or changes in spending levels is included in the bill text. The bill does say the source of funds would be the Nuclear Waste Fund, but it does not list amounts or fiscal estimates.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describes proponents' arguments or stated benefits. The bill was introduced by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text describes opponents' arguments or stated concerns.