Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023

To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a Nuclear Fuel Security Program, expand the American Assured Fuel Supply Program, and submit a report on a civil nuclear credit program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 2. U.S. nuclear fuel security initiative (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the Department should— (A) prioritize activities to increase domestic production of low-enriched uranium; and (B) accelerate efforts to establish a domestic high-assay, low-enriched uranium enrichment capability; and (2) if domestic enrichment of high-assay, low-enriched uranium will not be commercially available at the scale needed in time to meet the needs of the advanced nuclear reactor demonstration projects of the Department, the Secretary shall consider and implement, as necessary— (A) all viable options to make high-assay, low-enriched uranium produced from inventories owned by the Department available in a manner that is sufficient to maximize the potential for the Department to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers, without impacting existing Department missions, until such time that commercial enrichment and deconversion capability for high-assay, low-enriched uranium exists at a scale sufficient to meet future needs; and (B) all viable options for partnering with countries that are allies or partners of the United States to meet those needs and schedules until that time. (b) Objectives The objectives of this section are— (1) to expeditiously increase domestic production of low-enriched uranium; (2) to expeditiously increase domestic production of high-assay, low-enriched uranium by an annual quantity, and in such form, determined by the Secretary to be sufficient to meet the needs of— (A) advanced nuclear reactor developers; and (B) the consortium; (3) to ensure the availability of domestically produced, converted, enriched, deconverted, and reduced uranium in a quantity determined by the Secretary, in consultation with U.S. nuclear energy companies, to be sufficient to address a reasonably anticipated supply disruption; (4) to address gaps and deficiencies in the domestic production, conversion, enrichment, deconversion, and reduction of uranium by partnering with countries that are allies or partners of the United States if domestic options are not practicable; (5) to ensure that, in the event of a supply disruption in the nuclear fuel market, a reserve of nuclear fuels is available to serve as a backup supply to support the nuclear nonproliferation and civil nuclear energy objectives of the Department; (6) to support enrichment, deconversion, and reduction technology deployed in the United States; and (7) to ensure that, until such time that domestic enrichment and deconversion of high-assay, low-enriched uranium is commercially available at the scale needed to meet the needs of advanced nuclear reactor developers, the Secretary considers and implements, as necessary— (A) all viable options to make high-assay, low-enriched uranium produced from inventories owned by the Department available in a manner that is sufficient to maximize the potential for the Department to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers; and (B) all viable options for partnering with countries that are allies or partners of the United States to meet those needs and schedules. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Advanced nuclear reactor The term advanced nuclear reactor 42 U.S.C. 16271(b) (2) Associated entity The term associated entity (A) is owned, controlled, or dominated by— (i) the government of a country that is an ally or partner of the United States; or (ii) an associated individual; or (B) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of, a country that is an ally or partner of the United States, including a corporation that is incorporated in such a country. (3) Associated individual The term associated individual (4) Consortium The term consortium 42 U.S.C. 16281(a)(2)(F) (5) Department The term Department (6) High-assay, low-enriched uranium; HALEU The term high-assay, low-enriched uranium HALEU 42 U.S.C. 16281(d) (7) Low-enriched uranium; LEU The term low-enriched uranium LEU (A) low-enriched uranium (as defined in section 3102 of the USEC Privatization Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2297h (B) low-enriched uranium (as defined in section 3112A(a) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h–10a(a))). (8) Programs The term Programs (A) the Nuclear Fuel Security Program established under subsection (d)(1); (B) the American Assured Fuel Supply Program of the Department; and (C) the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program established under subsection (d)(3). (9) Secretary The term Secretary (10) U.S. nuclear energy company The term U.S. nuclear energy company (A) is organized under the laws of, or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of, the United States; and (B) is involved in the nuclear energy industry. (d) Establishment and expansion of programs The Secretary, consistent with the objectives described in subsection (b), shall— (1) establish a program, to be known as the Nuclear Fuel Security Program (2) expand the American Assured Fuel Supply Program of the Department to ensure the availability of domestically produced, converted, enriched, deconverted, and reduced uranium in the event of a supply disruption; and (3) establish a program, to be known as the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program (A) to maximize the potential for the Department to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers until such time that commercial enrichment and deconversion capability for HALEU exists in the United States at a scale sufficient to meet future needs; and (B) where practicable, to partner with countries that are allies or partners of the United States to meet those needs and schedules until that time. (e) Nuclear Fuel Security Program (1) In general In carrying out the Nuclear Fuel Security Program, the Secretary— (A) shall— (i) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, enter into 2 or more contracts to begin acquiring not less than 100 metric tons per year of LEU by December 31, 2026 (or the earliest operationally feasible date thereafter), to ensure diversity of supply in domestic uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, and deconversion capacity and technologies, including new capacity, among U.S. nuclear energy companies; (ii) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, enter into 2 or more contracts with members of the consortium to begin acquiring not less than 20 metric tons per year of HALEU by December 31, 2027 (or the earliest operationally feasible date thereafter), from U.S. nuclear energy companies; (iii) utilize only uranium produced, converted, enriched, deconverted, and reduced in— (I) the United States; or (II) if domestic options are not practicable, a country that is an ally or partner of the United States; and (iv) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the use of domestic uranium utilized as a result of that program does not negatively affect the economic operation of nuclear reactors in the United States; and (B) (i) may not make commitments under this subsection (including cooperative agreements (used in accordance with section 6305 of title 31, United States Code), purchase agreements, guarantees, leases, service contracts, or any other type of commitment) for the purchase or other acquisition of HALEU or LEU unless— (I) funds are specifically provided for those purposes in advance in appropriations Acts enacted after the date of enactment of this Act; or (II) the commitment is funded entirely by funds made available to the Secretary from the account described in subsection (i)(2)(B); and (ii) may make a commitment described in clause (i) only— (I) if the full extent of the anticipated costs stemming from the commitment is recorded as an obligation at the time that the commitment is made; and (II) to the extent of that up-front obligation recorded in full at that time. (2) Considerations In carrying out paragraph (1)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall consider and, if appropriate, implement— (A) options to ensure the quickest availability of commercially enriched HALEU, including— (i) partnerships between 2 or more commercial enrichers; and (ii) utilization of up to 10-percent enriched uranium as feedstock in demonstration-scale or commercial HALEU enrichment facilities; (B) options to partner with countries that are allies or partners of the United States to provide LEU and HALEU for commercial purposes; (C) options that provide for an array of HALEU— (i) enrichment levels; (ii) output levels to meet demand; and (iii) fuel forms, including uranium metal and oxide; and (D) options— (i) to replenish, as necessary, Department stockpiles of uranium that were intended to be downblended for other purposes, but were instead used in carrying out activities under the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program; (ii) to continue supplying HALEU to meet the needs of the recipients of an award made pursuant to the funding opportunity announcement of the Department numbered DE–FOA–0002271 for Pathway 1, Advanced Reactor Demonstrations; and (iii) to make HALEU available to other advanced nuclear reactor developers and other end-users. (3) Avoidance of market disruptions In carrying out the Nuclear Fuel Security Program, the Secretary, to the extent practicable and consistent with the purposes of that program, shall not disrupt or replace market mechanisms by competing with U.S. nuclear energy companies. (f) Expansion of the American Assured Fuel Supply Program The Secretary, in consultation with U.S. nuclear energy companies, shall— (1) expand the American Assured Fuel Supply Program of the Department by merging the operations of the Uranium Reserve Program of the Department with the American Assured Fuel Supply Program; and (2) in carrying out the American Assured Fuel Supply Program of the Department, as expanded under paragraph (1)— (A) maintain, replenish, diversify, or increase the quantity of uranium made available by that program in a manner determined by the Secretary to be consistent with the purposes of that program and the objectives described in subsection (b); (B) utilize only uranium produced, converted, enriched, deconverted, and reduced in— (i) the United States; or (ii) if domestic options are not practicable, a country that is an ally or partner of the United States; (C) make uranium available from the American Assured Fuel Supply, subject to terms and conditions determined by the Secretary to be reasonable and appropriate; (D) refill and expand the supply of uranium in the American Assured Fuel Supply, including by maintaining a limited reserve of uranium to address a potential event in which a domestic or foreign recipient of uranium experiences a supply disruption for which uranium cannot be obtained through normal market mechanisms or under normal market conditions; and (E) take other actions that the Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate to address the purposes of that program and the objectives described in subsection (b). (g) HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program (1) Activities On enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall immediately accelerate and, as necessary, initiate activities to make available from inventories or stockpiles owned by the Department and made available to the consortium, HALEU for use in advanced nuclear reactors that cannot operate on uranium with lower enrichment levels or on alternate fuels, with priority given to the awards made pursuant to the funding opportunity announcement of the Department numbered DE–FOA–0002271 for Pathway 1, Advanced Reactor Demonstrations, with additional HALEU to be made available to other advanced nuclear reactor developers, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (2) Quantity In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Secretary shall consider and implement, as necessary, all viable options to make HALEU available in quantities and forms sufficient to maximize the potential for the Department to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers, including by seeking to make available— (A) by September 30, 2024, not less than 3 metric tons of HALEU; (B) by December 31, 2025, not less than an additional 8 metric tons of HALEU; and (C) by June 30, 2026, not less than an additional 10 metric tons of HALEU. (3) Factors for consideration In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration— (A) options for providing HALEU from a stockpile of uranium owned by the Department, including— (i) uranium that has been declared excess to national security needs during or prior to fiscal year 2023; (ii) uranium that— (I) directly meets the needs of advanced nuclear reactor developers; but (II) has been previously used or fabricated for another purpose; (iii) uranium that can meet the needs of advanced nuclear reactor developers after removing radioactive or other contaminants that resulted from previous use or fabrication of the fuel for research, development, demonstration, or deployment activities of the Department, including activities that reduce the environmental liability of the Department by accelerating the processing of uranium from stockpiles designated as waste; (iv) uranium from a high-enriched uranium stockpile, which can be blended with lower assay uranium to become HALEU to meet the needs of advanced nuclear reactor developers; and (v) uranium from stockpiles intended for other purposes (excluding stockpiles intended for national security needs), but for which uranium could be swapped or replaced in time in such a manner that would not negatively impact the missions of the Department; (B) options for expanding, or establishing new, capabilities or infrastructure to support the processing of uranium from Department inventories; (C) options for accelerating the availability of HALEU from HALEU enrichment demonstration projects of the Department; (D) options for providing HALEU from domestically enriched HALEU procured by the Department through a competitive process pursuant to the Nuclear Fuel Security Program established under subsection (d)(1); (E) options to replenish, as needed, Department stockpiles of uranium made available pursuant to subparagraph (A) with domestically enriched HALEU procured by the Department through a competitive process pursuant to the Nuclear Fuel Security Program established under subsection (d)(1); and (F) options that combine 1 or more of the approaches described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) to meet the deadlines described in paragraph (2). (4) Limitations (A) Certain services The Secretary shall not barter or otherwise sell or transfer uranium in any form in exchange for services relating to— (i) the final disposition of radioactive waste from uranium that is the subject of a contract for sale, resale, transfer, or lease under this subsection; or (ii) environmental cleanup activities. (B) Certain commitments In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Secretary— (i) may not make commitments under this subsection (including cooperative agreements (used in accordance with section 6305 of title 31, United States Code), purchase agreements, guarantees, leases, service contracts, or any other type of commitment) for the purchase or other acquisition of HALEU or LEU unless— (I) funds are specifically provided for those purposes in advance in appropriations Acts enacted after the date of enactment of this Act; or (II) the commitment is funded entirely by funds made available to the Secretary from the account described in subsection (i)(2)(B); and (ii) may make a commitment described in clause (i) only— (I) if the full extent of the anticipated costs stemming from the commitment is recorded as an obligation at the time that the commitment is made; and (II) to the extent of that up-front obligation recorded in full at that time. (5) Sunset The authority of the Secretary to carry out activities under this subsection shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that the HALEU needs of advanced nuclear reactor developers can be fully met by commercial HALEU suppliers in the United States, as determined by the Secretary, in consultation with U.S. nuclear energy companies. (h) Domestic sourcing considerations (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may only carry out an activity in connection with 1 or more of the Programs if— (A) the activity promotes manufacturing in the United States associated with uranium supply chains; or (B) the activity relies on resources, materials, or equipment developed or produced— (i) in the United States; or (ii) in a country that is an ally or partner of the United States by— (I) the government of that country; (II) an associated entity; or (III) a U.S. nuclear energy company. (2) Waiver The Secretary may waive the requirements of paragraph (1) with respect to an activity if the Secretary determines a waiver to be necessary to achieve 1 or more of the objectives described in subsection (b). (i) Reasonable compensation (1) In general In carrying out activities under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that any LEU and HALEU made available by the Secretary under 1 or more of the Programs is subject to reasonable compensation, taking into account the fair market value of the LEU or HALEU and the purposes of this section. (2) Availability of certain funds (A) In general Notwithstanding section 3302(b) of title 31, United States Code, revenues received by the Secretary from the sale or transfer of fuel feed material acquired by the Secretary pursuant to a contract entered into under clause (i) or (ii) of subsection (e)(1)(A) shall— (i) be deposited in the account described in subparagraph (B); (ii) be available to the Secretary for carrying out the purposes of this section, to reduce the need for further appropriations for those purposes; and (iii) remain available until expended. (B) Revolving fund There is established in the Treasury an account into which the revenues described in subparagraph (A) shall be— (i) deposited in accordance with clause (i) of that subparagraph; and (ii) made available in accordance with clauses (ii) and (iii) of that subparagraph. (j) Nuclear regulatory commission The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall prioritize and expedite consideration of any action related to the Programs to the extent permitted under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq. (k) USEC Privatization Act The requirements of section 3112(d)(2) of the USEC Privatization Act ( 42 U.S.C. 2297h–10(d)(2) (l) National security needs The Secretary shall only make available to a member of the consortium under this section for commercial use or use in a demonstration project material that the President has determined is not necessary for national security needs, subject to the condition that the material made available shall not include any material that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the National Nuclear Security Administration or any critical mission of the Department. (m) International agreements This section shall be applied in a manner consistent with the obligations of the United States under international agreements. (n) Authorization of appropriations In addition to amounts otherwise available, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out activities under this section $3,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, to remain available until September 30, 2032, of which the Secretary may use up to $1,000,000,000 by September 30, 2028, to carry out the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program. 3. Report on civil nuclear credit program Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that identifies the anticipated funding requirements for the civil nuclear credit program described in section 40323 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 42 U.S.C. 18753 (1) the zero-emission nuclear power production credit authorized by section 45U (2) any increased fuel costs associated with the use of domestic fuel that may arise from the implementation of that program.

Summary: Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 This bill establishes new programs and expands existing programs to increase domestic supplies of certain types of low-enriched uranium (LEU) for nuclear energy and establishes related requirements. Specifically, the Department of Energy (DOE) must establish a program to increase the production of certain types of LEU, including high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) used by advanced reactors, by U.S. nuclear energy companies. DOE must also establish a demonstration program to make HALEU available from its inventories or stockpiles and allied countries to meet the needs and schedules of advanced nuclear reactor developers until such time that commercial enrichment and deconversion capability for the uranium exists in the United States at a scale sufficient to meet future needs. In addition, DOE must expand the existing American Assured Fuel Supply Program to ensure the availability of uranium, including HALEU, from domestic sources or allies in the event of a supply disruption. Under the expansion, DOE must merge its Uranium Reserve Program with the American Assured Fuel Supply Program. Under the expanded program, DOE must utilize only uranium produced, converted, enriched, deconverted, and reduced in the United States or an allied country. DOE must also maintain a limited reserve of uranium. The bill also expands DOE's Advanced Nuclear Technologies Federal Research, Development, and Demonstration Program established under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 to include financial assistance for the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors and associated supply chain infrastructure. It also revises and reauthorizes through FY2027 DOE's nuclear traineeship subprogram. Finally, the bill modifies the USEC Privatization Act to (1) limit the amount of LEU that may be imported into the United States through 2027, and (2) prohibit the importation of unirradiated LEU (i.e., uranium that has not been in a reactor) that is produced in Russia or by a Russian entity. It also prohibits importing LEU obtained in a manner designed to circumvent such prohibition. DOE may waive such prohibitions if it is in the national interest or there is no alternative viable source of LEU available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or a U.S. nuclear energy company. Any waiver issued must terminate by January 1, 2028. The modifications to such act do not apply to imports for national security or nonproliferation purposes, or of non-uranium isotopes. The modifications no longer apply after December 31, 2040.