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United States

House passes bills on nuclear reactor licensing and fuel recycling

Passage of two nuclear measures could shape federal licensing timelines and the supply chain for advanced fuel recycling, which matters to energy producers and manufacturers.

Photo: Andy Feliciotti, Unsplash

What happened

The House approved H.R. 9613, the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act, by voice vote on Monday under suspension of the rules. Representative Diana Harshbarger The bill, introduced by Republican Tennessee Representative Diana Harshbarger, would update the responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. Representative Diana Harshbarger The House also passed the Nuclear Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing Act on Monday. NAM That measure would amend the Atomic Energy Act to exclude advanced fuel recycling technologies from the definition of production facility, provided the process does not separate plutonium from other transuranium elements. NAM

Around it

Harshbarger said the bill is intended to focus the committee on novel, safety-significant issues rather than matters already resolved elsewhere in the regulatory process. Representative Diana Harshbarger The National Association of Manufacturers supported the fuel recycling measure and described it as bipartisan. NAM The association said streamlined licensing could help manage and beneficially use stored spent nuclear fuel across the country. NAM

Sources

  1. Representative Diana HarshbargerCONSERVATIVE BRIEF: House Passes GOP Rep’s Nuclear Regulatory Reform Measure
  2. NAMBipartisan, NAM-Supported Nuclear REFUEL Act Passes House

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