100 Year Canister Life Act

100 Year Canister Life Act

This bill directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to issue regulations that require casks used in dry storage systems for spent nuclear fuel (i.e., nuclear waste) to be capable of operating safely for at least 100 years. Specifically, the regulations must prohibit the NRC from issuing or renewing any certificate of compliance or license for a dry storage cask for spent nuclear fuel without a finding that the cask can safely operate with spent nuclear fuel for a period of at least 100 years. Under current NRC regulations, a cask must be designed to operate safely for the term proposed in the license, which may not exceed 40 years.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7172 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7172

 To direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to promulgate regulations 
prohibiting the issuance of certain certificates and licenses without a 
finding that a certain system or facility can safely operate with spent 
    nuclear fuel for a period of at least 100 years, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 31, 2024

Mr. Levin (for himself and Mr. Carbajal) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to promulgate regulations 
prohibiting the issuance of certain certificates and licenses without a 
finding that a certain system or facility can safely operate with spent 
    nuclear fuel for a period of at least 100 years, 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 ``100 Year Canister Life Act''.

SEC. 2. SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL DRY CASK SAFETY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall promulgate final 
regulations, after providing notice and opportunity for public comment, 
prohibiting any Certificate of Compliance for a cask for a spent 
nuclear fuel dry storage system, or any specific license for a cask for 
a spent nuclear fuel dry storage facility, to be issued or renewed by 
the Commission without a finding that such system or facility can 
safely operate with spent nuclear fuel for a period of at least 100 
years.
    (b) Savings Clause.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
require the Commission to change the term of an initial license, or a 
renewal of a license, issued under part 72 of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulations).
    (c) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Cask.--The term ``cask'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 72.3 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations 
        (or any successor regulations).
            (2) Certificate of compliance.--The term ``Certificate of 
        Compliance'' has the meaning given such term in section 72.3 of 
        title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
        regulations).
            (3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (4) Spent nuclear fuel.--The term ``spent nuclear fuel'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 72.3 of title 10, 
        Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).
                                 <all>