Milestones for Advanced Nuclear Fuel Act
This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish certain milestone-based development and demonstration projects that support the domestic supply chain for nuclear fuel, including high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). Milestone-based demonstration projects require particular technical and financial milestones to be met before a project participant is provided an award through a competitive process.
Specifically, DOE must carry out milestone-based demonstration projects under its Fuel Cycle Research and Development program. DOE must also complete and make publicly available a study that analyzes the practicability, potential benefits, and estimated lifecycle costs of recycling certain spent nuclear fuel into usable fuel for nuclear reactors.
In carrying out the Nuclear Fuel Security Program and the HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program, DOE must award funding for milestone-based advanced fuel cycle technologies development and demonstration projects, including uranium production, conversion, enrichment, deconversion, and waste reduction for advanced fuels. As part of its annual budget request, DOE must provide to specified congressional committees a briefing on the milestone-based projects, including information about the benefits and drawbacks of milestone-based projects as compared to traditional project structure funding models.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8674 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8674
To establish milestone-based development and demonstration projects
relating to nuclear fuel, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 7, 2024
Mr. Williams of New York (for himself and Mr. Sorensen) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish milestone-based development and demonstration projects
relating to nuclear fuel, 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 ``Milestones for Advanced Nuclear Fuel
Act''.
SEC. 2. MILESTONE-BASED DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.
(a) Milestone-based Development and Demonstration Program.--The
Nuclear Fuel Security Act of 2023 (enacted as section 3131 of subtitle
C of title XXXI of division C of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2024 (Public Law 118-31)) is amended--
(1) in subsection (d)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), and (10)
as paragraphs (9), (10), and (11), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following
new paragraph:
``(8) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory'
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(q) Application of Certain Milestone-based Development and
Demonstration Projects.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award milestone-
based advanced fuel cycle technologies development and
demonstration projects in accordance with section 9005 of the
Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 7256c; enacted as part of title
IX of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021)
in carrying out the Nuclear Fuel Security Program and the HALEU
for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program
(established pursuant to subsection (e), and carried out in
accordance with subsections (f) and (h), respectively) in the
same manner and to the same extent as such section 9005 applies
to section 846(g) of the Department of Energy Organization Act
(42 U.S.C. 7256(g)).
``(2) Purpose.--In carrying out milestone-based advanced
fuel cycle technologies development and demonstration projects
referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall support the
development and demonstration of an economically competitive,
nuclear fuel supply chain by not later than three years after
the date of the enactment of this subsection that includes
domestic uranium production, conversion, enrichment,
deconversion, and waste reduction for advanced fuels, such as
HALEU and other advanced nuclear reactor fuels, for the
following:
``(A) Department research, development, and
demonstration projects for advanced nuclear reactors,
including civilian research and experimental reactors.
``(B) Advanced nuclear reactors.
``(C) Strategic radioactive and stable isotopes
producers, such as energy, medical, space-based heating
and power, and national security application, and for
basic research.
``(D) Interagency and intra-agency partnerships and
collaborations, including with the National
Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, the Department of Defense, and other
relevant Federal and State departments and agencies, as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) Eligibility.--Any associated entity is eligible to
participate in the projects under this subsection if the
Secretary has determined such entity has the necessary
resources and expertise. In selecting eligible associated
entities, the Secretary shall select, to the maximum extent
practicable, associated entities that--
``(A) prioritize novel technologies and processes;
``(B) utilize technologies and processes that
reduce nonproliferation risks; and
``(C) leverage matching funds from non-Federal
sources.
``(4) Requirements.--In carrying out such projects, the
Secretary shall consult with developers of advanced nuclear
reactors and owners and operators of electric utilities to
review proposed technical and financial milestones and assist
in the development of such milestones.
``(5) Selection.--For the associated entities selected
under this subsection, the following conditions shall apply:
``(A) Consistent with the existing authorities of
the Department, the Secretary may terminate an
agreement with a selected associated entity for cause
during the performance period.
``(B) Support under this subsection may not be used
to cover any costs or reimbursement of expenses that
are covered by Federal funding provided through other
support, including awards.
``(6) Applications.--A project proposal submitted under
this subsection shall be evaluated based upon the scientific,
technical, and business merits of such proposal, including
consideration of waste management benefits, through a peer-
review process, which shall include reviewers with appropriate
expertise from the private sector, electric utilities, the
investment community, and nuclear fuel and supply chain
experts.
``(7) Project management.--In carrying out projects under
this subsection and assessing the completion of the milestones
developed pursuant to paragraph (4), the Secretary shall
consult with nuclear fuel and supply experts representing
diverse perspectives and professional experiences, including
developers of advanced nuclear reactor owners and operators of
electric utilities, to ensure a complete and thorough review.
``(8) Annual briefing.--As part of the annual budget
request submitted for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall
provide the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate a briefing describing the
selected projects under this subsection during the previous
fiscal year, the benefits and drawbacks of milestone-based
projects as compared to traditional project structure funding
models, and lessons-leaned from project operations.''.
(b) Nuclear Fuel Recycling and Viability to Support Existing and
Future Reactors.--Section 953 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16273) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(c) Milestone-based Demonstrations Projects.--The Secretary shall
carry out demonstration projects under this section as a milestone-
based demonstration project in the same manner and to the same extent
as under section 9005 of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 7256c;
enacted as part of title IX of division Z of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021), with priority placed on awarding milestone-
based awards to projects that increase domestic fabrication and
recycling capacity of spent nuclear fuel for advanced fuels.
``(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the date
of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, acting through the
Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, shall complete and make
publicly available a study that analyzes the practicability, potential
benefits, including relating to waste reduction through separation of
high- and low-level waste or utilization of transuranic materials, and
estimated lifecycle costs of the following:
``(1) Dedicated recycling facilities, and co-location with
other nuclear energy infrastructure, that utilize spent nuclear
fuel from existing nuclear reactors and future advanced nuclear
reactors into usable nuclear fuel for the following:
``(A) Commercial light water reactors.
``(B) Advanced nuclear reactors.
``(C) Space-based heating and power.
``(D) Research reactors.
``(E) Nuclear battery applications.
``(F) Such other applications as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(2) Dedicated recycling facilities, and co-location with
other nuclear energy infrastructure, to utilize high-assay low-
enriched uranium (HALEU) (as such term is defined in section
2001(d) of the Energy Act of 2020 (42 U.S.C. 16281(d)), or
other feedstocks, such as uranium and transuranic materials,
into usable nuclear fuel for the following:
``(A) Commercial light water reactors.
``(B) Advanced nuclear reactors.
``(C) Space-based power.
``(D) Research reactors.
``(E) Nuclear battery applications.
``(F) Such other applications as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(3) Utilizing recycled fuel in advanced nuclear reactors
or existing light water reactors as compared to non-recycled
fuel.
``(4) Dedicated spent nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities,
and co-location with other nuclear energy infrastructure, to
extract certain radioactive and stable isotopes needed for
domestic and international use, including for the following:
``(A) Advanced nuclear reactors.
``(B) Medical, industrial, space-based power, and
nuclear battery applications.
``(C) Such other applications as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
``(5) Commercial associated entities acquiring spent fuel
from operating or shutdown reactors and any contract or policy
revisions that could better facilitate such transactions.
``(6) Private sector associated entities that take title of
spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear reactor sites for
any of the following:
``(A) Research or reuse.
``(B) Recycling.
``(C) Strategic radioactive or stable isotope
extraction.
``(7) Comprehensive cost-benefit analysis associated with
spent fuel recycling, including considerations of net reduction
in spent fuel inventory, separation of high- and low-level
waste with new storage requirements, disposal of byproducts
from spent fuel recycling, supply chain impacts, and list of
industries that would benefit from spent fuel recycling
byproducts.
``(8) Policy, legal, or regulatory changes to support the
safe and secure development and deployment of recycling and
waste utilizing reactor technologies, and any impacts such
changes would have on domestic storage of spent nuclear fuel
and disposal through the recycling of spent nuclear fuel.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 118-686.
Reported by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 118-686.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 580.
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