§10198 Research and Development on Spent Nuclear Fuel

Summary

The Secretary must set up a demonstration program with private companies to test dry storage of spent nuclear fuel at civilian reactor sites. The goal is to find one or more storage technologies that the Commission can approve for use at reactor sites without needing new site-by-site approvals when possible. Within 1 year after January 7, 1983, the Secretary must pick at least 1 and no more than 3 sites (from those reviewed under section 10194), giving preference to reactors that will soon run out of interim storage space. Demonstrations may use storage casks, caissons, or silos. The Secretary must also run a cooperative program to help develop technology for consolidating fuel rods in existing water storage pools. To do this, the Secretary must make cooperative agreements with each utility. Each utility must choose the storage method, provide land and the spent fuel, apply for and get any needed licenses, build and operate the facility, and pay construction and operating costs. The Secretary must give consultative and technical help on a cost-sharing basis, including design help and generic licensing documents, and may do broader R&D on alternative storage methods if allowed by other law. The Secretary’s R&D may include dry storage testing of up to 300 metric tons of spent fuel at Federal facilities owned on January 7, 1983, using fuel received under section 10155 (and that fuel is not subject to section 10155(e)). Federal funds, facilities, or services cannot cover more than 25 percent of the demo program’s estimated total cost; the rest must be paid by the utilities or from the Interim Storage Fund (section 10156). The Department may not use its own R&D or demo facilities for the storage program unless 30 calendar days (excluding certain long congressional adjournments) pass after the Secretary sends a written report about the facility to two congressional committees, or both committees send written notices of no objection before the 30 days end.