§2065 Improving the Reliability of Domestic Medical Isotope Supply

Summary

Creates a technology-neutral program to help make molybdenum-99 in the United States without using highly enriched uranium. The program must work with non-Federal partners and share costs under section 16352 of this title. Projects are judged mainly on how fast they can start production, how much of U.S. need they can supply, how cost-effective they are, and the project cost. A U.S. reactor that now uses highly enriched uranium is not automatically excluded if no fuel option enriched to less than 20 percent U–235 exists for that reactor, the operator promises to switch when a lower-enriched fuel is available, and the operator gives a current report and schedule for conversion. The Secretary must make and update a public program plan each year and use the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee for reviews every three years. The Secretary must also help develop fuels, targets, and processes that do not use highly enriched uranium and support commercial plants using them. The Secretary must set up leases to provide low enriched uranium for irradiation so producers can make molybdenum-99 and take title to the product. Lease rules must make the Department take responsibility for final disposal of spent fuel and waste from leased uranium when producers lack a disposal path, and producers must package and transport waste properly before the Department accepts it. Leases must pay cash at market rates and cover the net present value of Federal costs for disposal and other program expenses, using a discount rate no greater than the average interest rate on marketable Treasury securities. Lease money can be used for program activities. The Department and NRC must avoid duplicate environmental reviews. The take-back program must be set up within 3 years after January 2, 2013. Radioactive material permanently removed from a reactor with no further use is treated as low-level radioactive waste if it meets Federal disposal rules.