House subcommittee discusses NLIC, nuclear spent fuel policy

[Marlin]

House subcommittee discusses NLIC, nuclear spent fuel policy

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-09-16/article-8393/house-subcommittee-discusses-nlic-nuclear-spent-fuel-policy/

[Core Content]

A congressional panel examined the Department of Energy Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses program during a recent hearing. Officials discussed finalized state memorandums of understanding and the transition toward formal contractual agreements. Participants also addressed statutory limitations restricting permanent radioactive waste disposal solely to Yucca Mountain.

Lawmakers and industry representatives expressed bipartisan support for expanding the front end of the fuel cycle and pursuing alternative disposal pathways. Participants emphasized that commercial reprocessing can reduce waste volumes, but permanent repositories remain a necessary component of long-term radioactive material management.

Six states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia—have now signed memorandums of understanding as finalists for the Department of Energy's Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses (NLIC) program. Some or all of these states could very well host a facility or facilities to handle multiple stages of the nuclear fuel cycle...

Garrish weighs in: A hearing Tuesday held by the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Energy Subcommittee examined the NLIC program and the nation's nuclear spent fuel policy. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Theodore Garrish said at the hearing that a more formalized host agreement should be coming by the end of September, followed by what he called "contractual methodology" by mid-December.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-09-16/article-8393/house-subcommittee-discusses-nlic-nuclear-spent-fuel-policy/