STORE Nuclear Fuel Act of 2021

To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for the interim storage of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Storage and Transportation Of Residual and Excess Nuclear Fuel Act of 2021 STORE Nuclear Fuel Act of 2021 2. Interim storage (a) In general Title I of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 ( 42 U.S.C. 10121 I Interim Storage 190. Definitions In this subtitle: (1) Contract holder The term contract holder (A) generates or holds title to spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste generated at a civilian nuclear power reactor; and (B) has entered into a contract for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste under section 302(a). (2) Emergency delivery (A) In general The term emergency delivery (B) Inclusion The term emergency delivery (i) pursuant to a compliance agreement; or (ii) to eliminate an imminent and serious threat to the health and safety of the public or the common defense and security. (3) Priority waste The term priority waste (A) any emergency delivery; and (B) spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste from a civilian nuclear power reactor that has been permanently shut down. (4) Storage facility The term storage facility 191. Program for storage facilities (a) Establishment of program The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary may— (1) site, construct, and operate one or more storage facilities licensed by the Commission under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; and (2) store, pursuant to a storage contract, high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel at a storage facility for which a non-Federal entity holds a license issued by the Commission under such Act. (b) Interim storage agreements authorized (1) In general The Secretary may enter into an agreement with any contract holder for acceptance of title pursuant to section 302(a), subsequent transportation, and interim storage of high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel (including to expedite such acceptance of title, transportation, and storage of such waste or spent fuel from facilities that have ceased commercial operation) at a storage facility under this section. (2) Priority waste In entering into agreements under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize acceptance of priority waste. (c) Priority (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall prioritize storage authorized under subsection (a)(2). (2) Exception (A) Determination Paragraph (1) shall not apply if the Secretary determines that it will be faster and less expensive to site, construct, and operate a facility authorized under subsection (a)(1), in comparison with a facility authorized under subsection (a)(2). (B) Notification Not later than 30 days after the Secretary makes a determination described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to Congress written notification of such determination. (d) Request for proposals (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary shall issue a request for proposals for storage authorized under subsection (a)(2)— (A) to obtain any license from the Commission and any other Federal or State entity that is necessary for the construction of one or more storage facilities; (B) to safely transport spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, as applicable, to such storage facilities; and (C) to safely store spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, as applicable, at such storage facilities, pending the construction and operation of a repository. (2) Guidelines (A) In general The request for proposals under paragraph (1) shall include general guidelines for storage facilities consistent with each requirement of section 112(a) that the Secretary determines to be applicable to storage under this section. (B) Revisions The Secretary may revise the general guidelines as necessary, consistent with this section. (e) Review of proposals The Secretary shall review each proposal submitted pursuant to subsection (d) to evaluate— (1) the extent to which the applicable States, affected units of local government, and affected Indian tribes support the proposal; (2) the likelihood that the proposed site for the storage facility is suitable for site evaluation under the guidelines included under subsection (d)(2); (3) a reasonable comparative evaluation of the proposed site and other proposed sites; (4) the extent to which spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste are, or are planned to be, stored or disposed of within the State; (5) the extent to which the proposal would— (A) enhance the reliability and flexibility of the system for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, including co-location with a proposed repository; and (B) minimize the effects on the public of transportation and handling of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (6) potential conflicts with— (A) any compliance agreement requiring removal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from a site; or (B) a statutory prohibition on the storage or disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at a site; and (7) any other criteria, including criteria relating to technical or safety specifications, that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (f) Site selection (1) Determination of suitability After conducting a review under subsection (e) and any additional site investigation that the Secretary determines to be appropriate, the Secretary shall determine whether a site is suitable for site evaluation under the guidelines included under subsection (d)(2). (2) Selection of site for evaluation From the sites determined to be suitable for site evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall select at least 1 site for site evaluation, giving priority to sites that have been proposed to be co-located with a repository, after— (A) holding a public hearing in the vicinity of each site; and (B) notifying Congress. (3) Cooperative agreement On selection of a site for evaluation under paragraph (2), the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the State, affected units of local government, and affected Indian tribes, as applicable, that includes— (A) terms of financial and technical assistance to enable each applicable unit of government to monitor, review, evaluate, comment on, obtain information on, make recommendations on, and mitigate any effects from, site evaluation activities; and (B) any other term that the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (4) Consent-based approval (A) In general If the Secretary determines, based on site evaluation under this subsection, that a site is suitable for developing a storage facility, the Secretary may select the site for developing such a facility if the Secretary enters into a consent agreement with— (i) the State in which the site is proposed to be located; (ii) each affected unit of local government; and (iii) any affected Indian tribe. (B) Binding effect A consent agreement entered into under subparagraph (A)— (i) shall be binding on the parties; and (ii) shall not be amended or revoked except by mutual agreement of the parties. . (b) Conforming amendment The table of contents for the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 ( 42 U.S.C. 10101 SUBTITLE I—INTERIM STORAGE Sec. 190. Definitions. Sec. 191. Program for storage facilities. . 3. Limitation on collection of fees Section 302(a)(4) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 ( 42 U.S.C. 10222(a)(4) (1) in the first sentence, by striking (4) Not later than (4) Collection and payment of fees (A) In general Not later than ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (B) Limitation on collection The Secretary may not collect a fee established under paragraph (2), including a fee established under paragraph (2) and adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (A), until the date on which the Commission issues a final decision approving or disapproving the issuance of a construction authorization for a repository under section 114(d). . 4. Funding Section 302(d) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 ( 42 U.S.C. 10222(d) (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ; and (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following: (7) carrying out subtitle I of title I, other than consent agreements under section 191(f)(4), except that the Secretary may not expend for such purpose in a fiscal year amounts totaling more than 25 percent of the interest generated by the Fund in such fiscal year; and (8) consent agreements under section 191(f)(4). .

Summary: Storage and Transportation Of Residual and Excess Nuclear Fuel Act of 2021 or the STORE Nuclear Fuel Act of 2021 This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a program under which it may (1) site, construct, and operate one or more consolidated interim storage facilities for the storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; and (2) enter into contracts with the licensee of a private interim storage facility in order to take title to, transport, and store in it either high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel. DOE must prioritize contracting with private facilities unless it can demonstrate that it is able to develop a site in a more cost-effective manner.