Sen. Voinovich Introduces Bill to Manage Domestic Used Nuclear Fuel

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), introduced the United States Nuclear Fuel Management Corporation Establishment Act, which would establish a government corporation with a nine-member bipartisan board of directors appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The entity would assume the responsibilities of the Department of Energy for managing used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

"Today's introduction of the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Management Corporation Establishment Act is paramount to enabling a nuclear renaissance in the United States," Sen. Voinovich said. "With continuing legal issues over Yucca Mountain and never ending political games paralyzing this clean energy effort, my hope is that this bill will create a successful framework for addressing the question of where to safely place used nuclear fuel."

The United States Nuclear Fuel Management Corporation Establishment Act would:

* Implement an accountable and sustainable government corporation with a nine-member bipartisan board of directors appointed by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the short- and long-term management of used nuclear fuel;
* Create a technology-neutral fuel management business that appropriately considers related issues of safety, nuclear proliferation, environmental impacts and economic factors; and
* Ensure that the fees paid into the Nuclear Waste Fund are applied for the disposal of radioactive materials produced by the generation of electricity from nuclear power.

"Ratepayers have been paying for a nuclear materials storage solution for years and it is about time we acted. Because the government has been unable to live up to its responsibilities in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, taxpayers are on the hook for billions of dollars in liability costs -- cost that continue to grow each and every day when our government fails to meet its used fuel commitment," Sen. Voinovich continued. "The current system is simply not working. We need to think aggressively and nontraditionally if the United States ever wants to experience the substantial benefits of nuclear power, and that is exactly what this bill does."

Sen. Voinovich continues to believe that nuclear power is one of the strongest alternatives we have today to produce the low-cost, reliable, base-load clean energy that our nation needs. And, at a time when we are struggling to regain our economic footing, the domestic manufacturing industry has an incredible opportunity when it comes to nuclear energy. Nuclear energy offers thousands of well-paying jobs in all stages of development and production.

Original sponsors in the U.S. Senate include Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN). Sen. Voinovich introduced similar legislation in 2008.

As former-chairman and Ranking Member, and current EPW Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee member, Sen. Voinovich is committed to the safe and secure growth of nuclear power. The Senator believes without nuclear power we will not be able to reach our goal of reducing carbon emissions or provide the base-load electricity our growing country demands, and we will miss an amazing opportunity to strengthen our U.S. manufacturing base and create good paying jobs. Sen. Voinovich, along with Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), recently led a bipartisan congressional letter to President Obama requesting that the White House join them in hosting a nuclear energy summit to bring together key leaders, stakeholders and innovators to discuss and plan for America's nuclear energy future.

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