HR3978: Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

Key facts

What the bill does

The following analysis is based on draft bill text that was made available by the House of Representatives and may differ from the bill text as introduced. Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) ActThis bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to license future recycling facilities that reprocess certain spent nuclear fuel (i.e., radioactive waste) under regulations for special nuclear material rather than regulations for production and utilization facilities. The bill applies to domestic facilities that reprocess spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not isolate plutonium. Generally, such recycling facilities reprocess spent nuclear fuel into materials that may be reused as nuclear fuel for electricity. While there are no commercial reprocessing facilities currently operating in the United States, the bill specifies which regulatory framework the NRC must use when issuing licenses to future facilities by excluding such facilities from the statutory definition of production facility. The licensing process under regulations for special nuclear material has fewer steps than the licensing process under regulations for production and utilization facilities.

Subjects: Energy efficiency and conservation, Industrial facilities, Nuclear power

Roll-call votes on HR3978 (119th Congress)

Every recorded vote on this bill, newest first, with a link to the official tally. Member-by-member positions are on each member’s profile.

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