ECA Update: NRC to restart Yucca Mt. licensing process; South Carolina files $100M suit over plutonium; & more

Published: Thu, 08/10/17

ECA UPDATE
Aug 10, 2017
FEATURED
STORAGE & DISPOSITION
Nuclear Regulatory Commission restarts Yucca Mountain licensing process
Washington Examiner | August 8, 2017

The nation's top nuclear energy regulator voted on Tuesday to proceed with the information-gathering stage of approving a license for the contentious nuclear waste storage site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 2-1 to begin actions related to the review of the Department of Energy's license to build the radioactive waste facility after the Obama administration attempted to scuttle the program entirely.

"These next steps involve information-gathering activities related to the suspended adjudication on the application," the regulatory agency said in a statement. "These activities will enable efficient, informed decisions in support of executing any further appropriations of funds for the High-Level Waste Program."

 
NUCLEAR SECURITY
South Carolina Attorney General sues federal government over plutonium at Savannah River Site
Post and Courier | August 8, 2017

The South Carolina Attorney General's Office sued the federal government Monday seeking to recover $100 million it says the U.S. Department of Energy owes for failing to remove one ton of plutonium from the Savannah River Site.

This is at least the second high-profile legal filing the state has pursued after Congress mandated the U.S. Department of Energy pay South Carolina $1 million per day, beginning Jan. 1, 2016, for every day the department failed to remove one metric ton of weapons-grade defense plutonium.

DOE has failed to process or remove the plutonium or pay the state the $100 million owed for 2016, the Attorney General's Office said in a news release Tuesday announcing the suit.

IN OTHER NEWS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aug 16-17   ECA Peer Exchange: Implementation of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park; Richland, WA (invitation only)

Sept 5   Congress returns from August recess

Sept 5-7   Radwaste Summit; Summerlin, NV

Sept 12-14   2017 National Cleanup Workshop; Alexandria, VA

Sept 13   House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus Event; Washington, DC

Sept 30   FY 2017 ends

Oct 1   FY 2018 begins