American Geological Institute Government Affairs Legislation Update * * * * * * * * * * * * * HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE BILL TEXT BILL NO: S.544 (104th CONGRESS, 1st SESSION) OFFICIAL TITLE: To establish a Presidential commission on nuclear waste, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 13 (legislative day, March 6), 1995 Mr. Bryan (for himself and Mr. Reid) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To establish a Presidential commission on nuclear waste, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Nuclear Waste Independent Review Act'. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress find that-- (1) despite the enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.), ratepayer contributions to the Nuclear Waste Fund established by section 302 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 10222) of over $6,000,000,000, and expenditures of over $4,000,000,000, the high-level radioactive waste program is behind schedule and is the subject of numerous fundamental controversies, including the very concept of deep geologic storage; (2) the Federal Government's only proposed transuranic waste disposal facility, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), is beset with unresolved engineering, geologic, and certification problems and suffers from cost overruns; (3) Federal and State efforts to site low-level radioactive waste disposal sites have failed in many instances because of technical problems and public opposition; and (4) there has never been a comprehensive independent review of Federal nuclear waste policies. SEC. 3. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to establish a commission to conduct a full independent review of United States nuclear waste policy. SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. (a) In General: The President, in consultation with the Science Advisor to the President and the Council on Environmental Quality, shall establish a commission to be known as the `Nuclear Waste Policy Review Commission' (referred to in this Act as the `Commission'). (b) Representation of Interest Groups: The membership and structure of the Commission shall be determined by the President with a view towards providing representation from-- (1) environmental groups; (2) consumer groups; (3) taxpayer groups; (4) the scientific community, including nuclear-oriented and other fields such as biology and medicine; (5) State and local governments; (6) Indian tribes; (7) transportation experts; (8) management experts; (9) Federal, State, and local regulatory agencies; (10) utilities; and (11) other affected industries. (c) Independent Status: The Commission shall be independent of the Department of Energy and other Federal agencies. (d) Participation by the Public: The Commission shall hold public meetings and provide full opportunities for participation by all interested parties. SEC. 5. ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED. The Commission shall consider all issues related to United States policy concerning high-level, transuranic, low-level waste, and other radioactive wastes including-- (1) various options for high-level radioactive waste storage and disposal, including deep geologic disposal, on-site dry storage, monitored retrievable storage, centralized interim storage, or any other options; (2) evaluation of the experiences of other countries in storing and disposing of radioactive waste; (3) an analysis of funding through the Nuclear Waste Fund established by section 302 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10222), including fee sufficiency and strategies for providing equity for ratepayer contributions to the Nuclear Waste Fund; (4) the siting and characterization process for nuclear waste programs currently in effect and alternatives to those programs; (5) technical, managerial, economic, and policy analyses of the nuclear waste inventory of the United States; and (6) an examination of the classification system for nuclear waste currently in effect, and options for reclassification. SEC. 6. REPORT. Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress a report on its review under this Act, including recommendations for legislative or other action. SEC. 7. MORATORIUM ON ISSUANCE OF LICENSES. No Federal agency may issue a license for a facility for the storage or disposal of radioactive waste (except a license for temporary on-site storage) until the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 6. SEC. 8. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the Commission submits its report under section 6. SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. Updated last: 8/3/95 Source: Library of Congress * * * * * * * * * * * * Government Affairs Department American Geological Institute 4220 King Street. Alexandria, Virginia 22301-1507 email: govt@jei.umd.edu phone: (703) 379-2480 fax: (703) 379-7563