Legislation introduced to help determine a consent-based path forward for nuclear waste
ECA Staff | 9/29/2021
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On Tuesday, Sen. Edward Markey and Rep. Mike Levin introduced the Nuclear Waste Task Force Act, legislation to establish a new task force to consider the implications of amending the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to
remove exemptions from environmental laws for nuclear waste. Eliminating this loophole could help enable consent-based siting of long-term storage solutions for nuclear waste. The task force would also be responsible for providing a clear explanation of what constitutes “consent-based siting,” according to a press release on both Congressmembers' websites.
Currently, the U.S. has no permanent geologic repository for the disposal of high-level waste. In 1987, Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to designate Yucca Mountain, Nevada as the only location to be considered by the Department of Energy to construct a national high-level nuclear waste repository. However, concerns from the scientific community, as well as political and legal opposition, have halted that effort.
Last week, the Government Accountability Office released a report calling on Congress to act to break the impasse over a permanent solution for commercial spent nuclear fuel. "By removing exemptions from environmental laws for nuclear waste,"
state the previously-noted press releases, "protective federal environmental, health, and welfare standards can work in tandem with state-level decision-making on where and how high-level nuclear waste could be stored. The Nuclear Waste Task Force would help determine if such an action would jumpstart more productive efforts to enable consent-based siting of geologic repositories."
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New Cleanup Workshop Dates Set for December
7-9
December 7-9, 2021
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
Alexandria, Virginia
If you have already registered for the Workshop, you will not need to re-register. If you need to register, please click here. If you have questions, please contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com or (865)
300-1061.
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NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
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NNSA awards $7 million to minority-serving institutions in NM and SC to support plutonium pit production
NNSA | 9/23/2021
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) awarded $7 million for workforce development and training supporting plutonium pit production to minority-serving educational institutions in New Mexico and South Carolina. NNSA provided $3.5 million for partnerships in each state to be distributed among selected institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal
colleges and universities.
“NNSA is dedicated to building a diverse capable workforce, and these partnerships ensure a diverse pipeline of talented next-generation professionals who will help us meet our current and future pit production goals,” said NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby.
Some of the funds will be used to purchase equipment and supplies like those used at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Savannah River Site to train those pursuing careers within the Nuclear Security Enterprise. “The grant will help bolster existing STEM and trade programs and facilitate the development of new course content to educate students and better prepare the incoming workforce,” said Robert Haldeman, Director of NNSA’s Plutonium Program Office.
“I was pleased to have worked with the National Nuclear Security Administration at the Department of Energy to make funding available to all eight historically black colleges and universities in South Carolina,” said Rep. James E. Clyburn. “Partnerships and investments like these are essential in order to create a future workforce that is not only skilled but reflects the diversity of America and ensures workers’ access to good paying jobs.”
“It is exciting to see these funds directed towards fulfilling a critical and diverse workforce channel that supports new missions at the Savannah River Site. I appreciate the National Nuclear Security Administration, in partnership with the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization, recognizing the talent in our region and investing these dollars to support good-paying jobs for decades to come,” said Rep. Joe Wilson.
The New Mexico Academic Consortium will administer funding awards for the program in the state and the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) will manage the grant in South Carolina. The SRSCRO also manages the Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers grant program supported by NNSA and administered through DOE’s Environmental Management Consolidated Business Center.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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