RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ACT EXPANSION IN SENATE VERSION OF THE RECONCILIATION BILL
The Senate Judiciary Committee section of the Senate's Reconciliation Bill includes an expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which has been stalled for years and has been advocated for to expand the coverage of Missouri and other states and parties, including by many ECA members. To date (6/16) it has not moved forward due to the cost. The summary of the Reconciliation Bill language is listed below along with a link: Subtitle D—Radiation Exposure Compensation Matters Sec. Sec. 401. Extension of Fund. This section reauthorizes the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA)
and sunsets the RECA Trust Fund on December 31, 2028. Sec. 402. Claims Relating to Atmospheric Testing. This section makes changes to eligibility under the existing RECA statute for victims and on-site participants (e.g. military personnel) exposed to fallout due to atmospheric testing prior to 1962 at the Nevada Test Site. It adds affected areas and permits first-time eligibility for claims related to the
Trinity Test. It modifies qualifying cancers and adjusts one-time compensation levels to account for inflation including New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona (specific counties). Sec. 403. Claims Relating to Uranium Mining. This section permits eligibility for RECA compensation for uranium mine workers who worked in mines across the United States related to the government’s nuclear program and developed cancers. It
makes changes to eligibility standards such as work history, permitted occupations at the mines, dates employed in the mines (e.g. permitted up to the end of the Cold War), and the eligible disease list. located in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, or Texas at any time during the period beginning on January 1, 1942, and ending on December 31, 1990 Sec.
404. Claims Relating to Manhattan Project Waste. This section permits eligibility for RECA compensation for other victims of negligently disposed nuclear material. It provides for one-time compensation and defines standards for receiving such compensation if an individual develops certain cancers after a residency period in affected areas (certain zip codes in Missouri, Kentucky, Alaska, and Tennessee) Sec. 405.
Limitation on Claims This section sunsets the window for filing new claims on December 31, 2027 To see the document, click here. Reconciliation Bill Status Update (Monday 6/16) - Committees have released their legislation title-by-title, giving the Committees and Leadership time to move forward on a Byrd Rule review, working to determine procedural eligibility for the bill in discussions before the Senate Parliamentarian.
- Once finalized, the ten separate pieces would be aggregated into a unified (and likely at least somewhat modified) Senate Amendment to the House
bill.
- While things may slip, the Senate is targeting floor activity next week of 6/23, preserving at least the possibility of the bill being signed into law by July 4th, although insiders say that target will be increasingly difficult to hit at this point.
- Majority Leader Thune announced last week that the Senate would stay in session into the recess week of July 4th if the bill were not yet passed (some good motivation for Members to move quickly towards passage out of
Senate).
- Conference remains an open question – if the Senate’s changes are sufficiently narrow and/or pre-negotiated, there is the possibility that the House may simply process the Senate bill without a Conference. However, some Members remain interested in pursuing a Conference to resolve any differences with the Senate bill.
ECA looks forward to providing more updates on the reconciliation bill as they
develop - to stay up to date, make sure to subscribe to the ECA Update.
CHRIS HANSON TERMINATED AS NRC COMMISSIONER
Christopher Hanson, a Commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released the following public statement early yesterday morning:
“Late on Friday, President Trump terminated my position
with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission without cause, contrary to existing law and longstanding precedent regarding removal of independent agency appointees.
My focus over the last five years has been to prepare the agency for anticipated change in the energy sector, while preserving the independence, integrity, and bipartisan nature of the world’s gold standard nuclear safety institution. It has been an honor to serve alongside the dedicated public servants at the
NRC. I continue to have full trust and confidence in their commitment to serve the American people by protecting public health and safety and the environment.”
ECA SUMMER SERIES: UPCOMING WEBINARS IN JUNE AND JULY
Recent executive orders signed by President Donald Trump direct the DOD and DOE to use their authorities to advance privately funded recycling, reprocessing and reactor fuel fabrication technologies. ECA has gathered a panel of experts to discuss the status of nuclear recycling and reprocessing in the U.S. and the implications it has on the U.S.’s nuclear waste strategy and the
industry as a whole. Join us June 25 from 2:00 - 3:30pm to learn more!
Earlier this summer, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed a report on nuclear waste titled, "An Integrated Disposal Plan Could Help DOE Complete Its Cleanup Mission and Save Billions". ECA is hosting an informational webinar to learn more about the recommendations to develop DOE complex-wide analyses to assess the progress of its cleanup mission. These recommendations include; optimization models to identify optimal disposal pathways; a call to develop a complex-wide disposal plan; and the creation of a
forum for EM, cleanup sites, and disposal facility regulators to address regulatory constraints to optimal disposal approaches. GAO analyzed EM waste data, interviewed or requested information from all 15 EM sites, visited commercial nuclear waste disposal facilities, and developed a hypothetical model for optimizing transuranic waste disposal using EM data. Join ECA on July 24 at 2pm ET to learn more about the report. Speakers will include: - Facilitator: Seth Kirshenberg – Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance
- Amanda Kolling, Assistant Director - Natural Resources and Environment, GAO
- Nathan Anderson, Director - Natural Resources and Environment, GAO
APPLICATIONS FOR DOME MICROREACTOR EXPERIMENTS DUE JUNE 19
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites reactor developers to submit applications for scheduling their microreactor experiments in the Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) test bed facility. DOME is intended to defray costs and accelerate American microreactor development and commercialization for reactor developers by providing access to a state-of-the-art containment structure where they can perform fueled advanced reactor experiments. DOE has released an application guide to help reactor developers through
the submission process. The sequencing of reactor experiments will be based on several criteria including technology readiness, fuel type and availability, regulatory approval plan, and the developer’s capabilities. Interested applicants must provide their contact information by 5:00 p.m. MDT on Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. MDT on June 19, 2025. Currently under construction, DOME will be ready to receive the first microreactor experiment as soon as 2026, with testing likely to begin in 2027, pending the full completion of an environmental review. To learn more about NRIC and the DOME test bed visit nric.inl.gov.
JOIN ETEC IN THE OAK RIDGE CORRIDOR FOR THE NUCLEAR OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP
July 22 - 23, 2025 | Knoxville Convention Center
WHAT IS NOW? - NOW is ETEC's Nuclear Opportunities Workshop, Tennessee’s premier nuclear industry conference focused on all things nuclear: fission, fusion, isotopes, environmental management, AI in nuclear, workforce and more. Join ETEC and a variety of experts and enthusiasts in
the Oak Ridge Corridor for this growing, engaging, and informative conference.
For more information, including agenda, supporter opportunities, and travel and lodging information, click here.
ROGER JARRELL, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EM, TO SPEAK AT THE NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP
September 23 - 25, 2025 | Crystal Gateway
Marriott | Arlington, VA
Join us for the 11th annual National Cleanup Workshop (NCW), to be held September 24-25, 2025 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott - Arlington, VA. Hear from Roger Jarrell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) and Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM), and a growing list of federal representatives, industry officials and state and local leaders. Hosted by ECA with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors
Group and DOE-EM; this is one of the largest events in the country dealing with the issues tackled by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM). TAKE A FIRST LOOK AT WHO'S SPEAKING!
Roger Jarrell | Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM
Brent Gerry | Mayor, City of
West Richland, WA; Chair, ECA
Rebecca Casper | Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID; Vice-Chair, ECA
David "DJ" Johnson | Vice President, Honeywell Federal Solutions; EFCOG Board Chair
Heatherly Dukes | President, Technical Service Group, BWX Technologies, Inc.
Carol Johnson | President and Program Manager, Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C)
Jeff Kendall | President,
AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear
Mark Whitney | President, Energy and Environment, Amentum
... and more!
Make sure to register before July 1, 2025, to receive the early bird discount rate! The cost of registration will increase after July 1.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday, September 24 8:00am National Cleanup Workshop 5:30pm Evening Reception for all NCW Attendees Thursday, September 25
8:00am National Cleanup Workshop SPONSORSHIP
NCW sponsorships offer an excellent opportunity to showcase your company, maximize networking opportunities with attendees, and host
an exhibit booth during the forum. Click here to learn more!
The National Cleanup Workshop is hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM)*.
WHAT YOU'VE MISSED: Trump
administration begins overhaul of the NRC Since the president's inauguration in January, the Trump Administration has been on
course to make big changes at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to realize its goals of deregulation, energy dominance, and deployment of advanced reactors. Given the many executive orders (EOs) and the work the Department of Government Efficiency has done in cutting the federal workforce, it was a surprise that NRC commissioner Christopher Hanson was dismissed on Friday, according to a statement Hanson posted on his LinkedIn profile early Monday. Read the full story State lawmakers go big on bills to advance nuclear power A U.S. “nuclear renaissance” has been illusory since the term was coined more than two decades ago. But a new force dominating energy markets — surging power demand from AI data centers — has convinced the industry that a revival is, finally, at hand. Nuclear, one of the few electricity generation technologies that’s been backed by Democratic and Republican
administrations, including President Donald Trump, has quietly gained traction in statehouses from Phoenix to Austin to Indianapolis. Read the full story Nuclear at heart of Ontario's integrated energy strategy The government's newly released energy roadmap brings together electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and other energy sources under a single coordinated strategy to ensure the province which already gets more than half of its electricity from nuclear plants has the affordable,
secure, reliable and clean energy it needs. Read the full story
GoneFission Nuclear Report - Oak Ridge Nuclear Center
of Excellence May 13, 2025 | S5 E2 Dr. Stephen Nagy discusses Japan's strategic positioning in a complex geopolitical landscape, particularly in relation to the U.S.-China rivalry. He explores Japan's economic ties with China, the challenges posed by regional security
threats, and the evolving strategies Japan is employing to navigate these issues. The conversation delves into Japan's historical pacifism, the potential for nuclear deterrence discussions, and the importance of trade agreements and technological cooperation in ensuring regional stability. https://gonefissionpodcast.com/ NucleCast - James Ragland: Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS) June 17, 2025 | S03 E223 James Ragland from the Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS) shares the school's history, mission, and the various courses it offers. He talks about the evolution of the school's focus from Cold War-era nuclear weapons to contemporary threats, the types of students who attend, and the
unique courses available, including specialized training for first responders. Ragland also highlights the importance of the Nuclear Weapons Instructional Museum and the role of DNWS in enhancing nuclear education within the military and government. https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
Spring into Strategy: Radiation Messaging and Outreach - Organized by NNSA Office of Nuclear Incident Policy & Cooperation Virtual | Multiple Dates | Next Session June 17 Register Here Nuclear Opportunities Workshop Knoxville, TN | July 22 - 23 Learn More Here National Cleanup Workshop 2025 Arlington, VA | September 23 - 25 Learn More Here
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