[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 41 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2881-S2900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT AMENDMENTS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate will now 
proceed to the consideration of S. 104, which the clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 104) to amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     1982.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill, which had been reported 
from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with amendments; as 
follows:

  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic.)

                                 S. 104

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       ``(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the `Nuclear 
     Waste Policy Act of 1997'.
       ``(b) Table of Contents.--

``Sec. 1. Short title and table of contents.
``Sec. 2. Definitions.

                         ``TITLE I--OBLIGATIONS

``Sec. 101. Obligations of the Secretary of Energy.

                ``TITLE II--INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

``Sec. 201. Intermodal Transfer.
``Sec. 202. Transportation planning.
``Sec. 203. Transportation requirements.
``Sec. 204. Interim storage.
``Sec. 205. Permanent repository.
``Sec. 206. Land withdrawal.

                      ``TITLE III--LOCAL RELATIONS

``Sec. 301. Financial Assistance.
``Sec. 302. On-Site Representative.
``Sec. 303. Acceptance of Benefits.
``Sec. 304. Restrictions on Use of Funds.
``Sec. 305. Land Conveyances.

                  ``TITLE IV--FUNDING AND ORGANIZATION

``Sec. 401. Program Funding.
``Sec. 402. Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
``Sec. 403. Federal contribution.

            ``TITLE V--GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

``Sec. 501. Compliance with other laws.
``Sec. 502. Judicial review of agency actions.
``Sec. 503. Licensing of facility expansions and transshipments.
``Sec. 504. Siting a second repository.
``Sec. 505. Financial arrangements for low-level radioactive waste site 
              closure.
``Sec. 506. Nuclear Regulatory Commission training authority.
``Sec. 507. Emplacement schedule.
``Sec. 508. Transfer of Title.
``Sec. 509. Decommissioning Pilot Program. 
``Sec. 510. Water Rights.

            ``TITLE VI--NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD

``Sec. 601. Definitions.
``Sec. 602. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
``Sec. 603. Functions.
``Sec. 604. Investigatory powers.
``Sec. 605. Compensation of members.
``Sec. 606. Staff.
``Sec. 607. Support services.
``Sec. 608. Report.
``Sec. 609. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 610. Termination of the board.

                     ``TITLE VII--MANAGEMENT REFORM

``Sec. 701. Management reform initiatives.
``Sec. 702. Reporting.
``Sec. 703. Effective date.

     ``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       ``For purposes of this Act:
       ``(1) Accept, acceptance.--The terms `accept' and 
     `acceptance' mean the Secretary's act of taking possession of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste.
       ``(2) Affected indian tribe.--The term `affected Indian 
     tribe' means any Indian tribe--
       ``(A) whose reservation is surrounded by or borders an 
     affected unit of local government, or
       ``(B) whose federally defined possessory or usage rights to 
     other lands outside of the reservation's boundaries arising 
     out of congressionally ratified treaties may be substantially 
     and adversely affected by the locating of an interim storage 
     facility or a repository if the Secretary of the Interior 
     finds, upon the petition of the appropriate governmental 
     officials of the tribe, that such effects are both 
     substantial and adverse to the tribe.
       ``(3) Affected unit of local government.--The term 
     `affected unit of local government' means the unit of local 
     government with jurisdiction over the site of a repository or 
     interim storage facility. Such term may, at the discretion of 
     the Secretary, include other units of local government that 
     are contiguous with such unit.
       ``(4) Atomic energy defense activity.--The term `atomic 
     energy defense activity' means any activity of the Secretary 
     performed in whole or in part in carrying out any of the 
     following functions:
       ``(A) Naval reactors development.
       ``(B) Weapons activities including defense inertial 
     confinement fusion.
       ``(C) Verification and control technology.
       ``(D) Defense nuclear materials production.
       ``(E) Defense nuclear waste and materials byproducts 
     management.
       ``(F) Defense nuclear materials security and safeguards and 
     security investigations.
       ``(G) Defense research and development.
       ``(5) Civilian nuclear power reactor.--The term `civilian 
     nuclear power reactor' means a civilian nuclear power plant 
     required to be licensed under section 103 or 104 b. of the 
     Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133, 2134(b)).
       ``(6) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Nuclear 
     Regulatory Commission.
       ``(7) Contracts.--The term `contracts' means the contracts, 
     executed prior to the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste 
     Policy Act of 1997, under section 302(a) of the Nuclear Waste 
     Policy Act of 1982, by the Secretary and any person who 
     generates or holds title to spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste of domestic origin for acceptance of such 
     waste or fuel by the Secretary and the payment of fees to 
     offset the Secretary's expenditures, and any subsequent 
     contracts executed by the Secretary pursuant to section 
     401(a) of this Act.
       ``(8) Contract holders.--The term `contract holders' means 
     parties (other than the Secretary) to contracts.
       ``(9) Department.--The term `Department' means the 
     Department of Energy.
       ``(10) Disposal.--The term `disposal' means the emplacement 
     in a repository of spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive 
     waste, or other highly radioactive material with no 
     foreseeable intent of recovery, whether or not such 
     emplacement permits recovery of such material for any future 
     purpose.
       ``(11) Disposal system.--The term `disposal system' means 
     all natural barriers and engineered barriers, and engineered 
     systems and components, that prevent the release of 
     radionuclides from the repository.
       ``(12) Emplacement schedule.--The term `emplacement 
     schedule' means the schedule established by the Secretary in 
     accordance with section 507(a) for emplacement of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the interim 
     storage facility.
       ``(13) Engineered barriers and engineered systems and 
     components.--The terms `engineered barriers' and `engineered 
     systems and components,' mean man-made components of a 
     disposal system. These terms include the spent nuclear fuel 
     or high-level radioactive waste form, spent nuclear fuel 
     package or high-level radioactive waste package, and other 
     materials placed over and around such packages.
       ``(14) High-level radioactive waste.--The term `high-level 
     radioactive waste' means--
       ``(A) the highly radioactive material resulting from the 
     reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste 
     produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material 
     derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products 
     in sufficient concentrations; and

[[Page S2882]]

       ``(B) other highly radioactive material that the 
     Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule 
     requires permanent isolation, which includes any low-level 
     radioactive waste with concentrations of radionuclides that 
     exceed the limits established by the Commission for class C 
     radioactive waste, as defined by section 61.55 of title 10, 
     Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 26, 
     1983.
       ``(15) Federal agency.--The term `Federal agency' means any 
     Executive agency, as defined in section 105 of title 5, 
     United States Code.
       ``(16) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means any 
     Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or 
     community of Indians recognized as eligible for the services 
     provided to Indians by the Secretary of the Interior because 
     of their status as Indians including any Alaska Native 
     village, as defined in section 3(c) of the Alaska Native 
     Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(c)).
       ``(17) Integrated management system.--The term `integrated 
     management system' means the system developed by the 
     Secretary for the acceptance, transportation, storage, and 
     disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste under title II of this Act.
       ``(18) Interim storage facility.--The term `interim storage 
     facility' means a facility designed and constructed for the 
     receipt, handling, possession, safeguarding, and storage of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in 
     accordance with title II of this Act.
       ``(19) Interim storage facility site.--The term `interim 
     storage facility site' means the specific site within Area 25 
     of the Nevada Test Site that is designated by the Secretary 
     and withdrawn and reserved in accordance with this Act for 
     the location of the interim storage facility.
       ``(20) Low-level radioactive waste.--The term `low-level 
     radioactive waste' means radioactive material that--
       ``(A) is not spent nuclear fuel, high-level radioactive 
     waste, transuranic waste, or byproduct material as defined in 
     section 11e. (2) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
     2014(e). (2)); and
       ``(B) the Commission, consistent with existing law, 
     classifies as low-level radioactive waste.
       ``(21) Metric tons uranium.--The terms `metric tons 
     uranium' and `MTU' means the amount of uranium in the 
     original unirradiated fuel element whether or not the spent 
     nuclear fuel has been reprocessed.
       ``(22) Nuclear waste fund.--The terms `Nuclear Waste Fund' 
     and `waste fund' mean the nuclear waste fund established in 
     the United States Treasury prior to the date of enactment of 
     this Act under section 302(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act 
     of 1982.
       ``(23) Office.--The term `Office' means the Office of 
     Civilian Radioactive Waste Management established within the 
     Department prior to the date of enactment of this Act under 
     the provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.
       ``(24) Program approach.--The term `program approach' means 
     the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program Plan, dated 
     May 6, 1996, as modified by this Act, and as amended from 
     time to time by the Secretary in accordance with this Act.
       ``(25) Repository.--The term `repository' means a system 
     designed and constructed under title II of this Act for the 
     geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste, including both surface and subsurface 
     areas at which spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste receipt, handling, possession, safeguarding, and 
     storage are conducted.
       ``(26) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       ``(27) Site characterization.--The term `site 
     characterization' means activities, whether in a laboratory 
     or in the field, undertaken to establish the geologic 
     condition and the ranges of the parameters of a candidate 
     site relevant to the location of a repository, including 
     borings, surface excavations, excavations of exploratory 
     facilities, limited subsurface lateral excavations and 
     borings, and in situ testing needed to evaluate the 
     licensability of a candidate site for the location of a 
     repository, but not including preliminary borings and 
     geophysical testing needed to assess whether site 
     characterization should be undertaken.
       ``(28) Spent nuclear fuel.--The term `spent nuclear fuel' 
     means fuel that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor 
     following irradiation, the constituent elements of which have 
     not been separated by reprocessing.
       ``(29) Storage.--The term `storage' means retention of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste with the 
     intent to recover such waste or fuel for subsequent use, 
     processing, or disposal.
       ``(30) Withdrawal.--The term `withdrawal' has the same 
     definition as that set forth in section 103(j) of the Federal 
     Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702(j)).
       ``(31) Yucca mountain site.--The term ``Yucca Mountain 
     site'' means the area in the State of Nevada that is 
     withdrawn and reserved in accordance with this Act for the 
     location of a repository.

                         ``TITLE I--OBLIGATIONS

     ``SEC. 101. OBLIGATIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY.

       ``(a) Disposal.--The Secretary shall develop and operate an 
     integrated management system for the storage and permanent 
     disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste.
       ``(b) Interim Storage.--The Secretary shall store spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from facilities 
     designated by contract holders at an interim storage facility 
     pursuant to section 204 in accordance with the emplacement 
     schedule, beginning not later than November 30, 1999.
       ``(c) Transportation.--The Secretary shall provide for the 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste accepted by the Secretary. The Secretary 
     shall procure all systems and components necessary to 
     transport spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste 
     from facilities designated by contract holders to and among 
     facilities comprising the Integrated Management System. 
     Consistent with the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a-10c), 
     unless the Secretary shall determine it to be inconsistent 
     with the public interest, or the cost to be unreasonable, all 
     such systems and components procured by the Secretary shall 
     be manufactured in the United States, with the exception of 
     any transportable storage systems purchased by contract 
     holders prior to the effective date of the Nuclear Waste 
     Policy Act of 1997 and procured by the Secretary from such 
     contract holders for use in the integrated management system.
       ``(d) Integrated Management System.--The Secretary shall 
     expeditiously pursue the development of each component of the 
     integrated management system, and in so doing shall seek to 
     utilize effective private sector management and contracting 
     practices.
       ``(e) Private Sector Participation.--In administering the 
     Integrated Management System, the Secretary shall, to the 
     maximum extent possible, utilize, employ, procure and 
     contract with, the private sector to fulfill the Secretary's 
     obligations and requirements under this Act.
       ``(f) Preexisting Rights.--Nothing in this Act is intended 
     to or shall be construed to modify--
       ``(1) any right of a contract holder under section 302(a) 
     of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, or under a contract 
     executed prior to the date of enactment of this Act under 
     that section; or
       ``(2) obligations imposed upon the Federal Government by 
     the United States District Court of Idaho in an order entered 
     on October 17, 1995 in United States v. Batt (No. 91-0054-S-
     EJL).
       ``(g) Liability.--Subject to subsection (f), nothing in 
     this Act shall be construed to subject the United States to 
     financial liability for the Secretary's failure to meet any 
     deadline for the acceptance or emplacement of spent nuclear 
     fuel or high-level radioactive waste for storage or disposal 
     under this Act.

                ``TITLE II--INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

     SEC. 201. INTERMODAL TRANSFER.

       ``(a) Access.--The Secretary shall utilize heavy-haul truck 
     transport to move spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste from the mainline rail line at Caliente, 
     Nevada, to the interim storage facility site.
       ``(b) Capability Date.--The Secretary shall develop the 
     capability to commence rail to truck intermodal transfer at 
     Caliente, Nevada, no later than November 30, 1999. Intermodal 
     transfer and related activities are incidental to the 
     interstate transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-
     level radioactive waste.
       ``(c) Acquisitions.--The Secretary shall acquire lands and 
     rights-of-way necessary to commence intermodal transfer at 
     Caliente, Nevada.
       ``(d) Replacements.--The Secretary shall acquire and 
     develop on behalf of, and dedicate to, the City of Caliente, 
     Nevada, parcels of land and right-of-way within Lincoln 
     County, Nevada, as required to facilitate replacement of land 
     and city wastewater disposal facilities necessary to commence 
     intermodal transfer pursuant to this Act. Replacement of land 
     and city wastewater disposal activities shall occur no later 
     than November 30, 1999.
       ``(e) Notice and Map.--Within 6 months of the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(1) publish in the Federal Register a notice containing a 
     legal description of the sites and rights-of-way to be 
     acquired under this subsection; and
       ``(2) file copies of a map of such sites and rights-of-way 
     with the Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, the State 
     of Nevada, the Archivist of the United States, the Board of 
     Lincoln County Commissioners, the Board of Nye County 
     Commissioners, and the Caliente City Council.

     Such map and legal description shall have the same force and 
     effect as if they were included in this Act. The Secretary 
     may correct clerical and typographical errors and legal 
     descriptions and make minor adjustments in the boundaries.
       ``(f) Improvements.--The Secretary shall make improvements 
     to existing roadways selected for heavy-haul truck transport 
     between Caliente, Nevada, and the interim storage facility 
     site as necessary to facilitate year-round safe transport of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
       ``(g) Local Government Involvement.--The Commission shall 
     enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of 
     Caliente and Lincoln County, Nevada, to provide advice to the 
     Commission regarding intermodal transfer and to facilitate 
     on-site representation. Reasonable expenses of such 
     representation shall be paid by the Secretary.

[[Page S2883]]

       ``(h) Benefits Agreement.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into 
     an agreement with the City of Caliente and Lincoln County, 
     Nevada concerning the integrated management system.
       ``(2) Agreement content.--Any agreement shall contain such 
     terms and conditions, including such financial and 
     institutional arrangements, as the Secretary and agreement 
     entity determine to be reasonable and appropriate and shall 
     contain such provisions as are necessary to preserve any 
     right to participation or compensation of the City of 
     Caliente and Lincoln County, Nevada.
       ``(3) Amendment.--An agreement entered into under this 
     subsection may be amended only with the mutual consent of the 
     parties to the amendment and terminated only in accordance 
     with paragraph (4).
       ``(4) Termination.--The Secretary shall terminate the 
     agreement under this subsection if any major element of the 
     integrated management system may not be completed.
       ``(5) Limitation.--Only 1 agreement may be in effect at any 
     one time.
       ``(6) Judicial review.--Decisions of the Secretary under 
     this section are not subject to judicial review.
       ``(i) Content of Agreement.--
       ``(1) Schedule.--In addition to the benefits to which the 
     City of Caliente and Lincoln County are entitled to under 
     this title, the Secretary shall make payments under the 
     benefits agreement in accordance with the following schedule:

                            BENEFITS SCHEDULE                           
                          [Amounts in millions]                         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Event                               Payment
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) Annual payments prior to first receipt of spent fuel......       2.5
(B) Annual payments beginning upon first spent fuel receipt...         5
(C) Payment upon closure of the intermodal transfer facility..         5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

       ``(2) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the 
     term--
       ``(A) `spent fuel' means high-level radioactive waste or 
     spent nuclear fuel; and
       ``(B) `first spent fuel receipt' does not include receipt 
     of spent fuel or high-level radioactive waste for purposes of 
     testing or operational demonstration.
       ``(3) Annual payments.--Annual payments prior to first 
     spent fuel receipt under paragraph (1)(A) shall be made on 
     the date of execution of the benefits agreement 
     and thereafter on the anniversary date of such execution. 
     Annual payments after the first spent fuel receipt until 
     closure of the facility under paragraph (1)(C) shall be 
     made on the anniversary date of such first spent fuel 
     receipt.
       ``(4) Reduction.--If the first spent fuel payment under 
     paragraph (1)(B) is made within 6 months after the last 
     annual payment prior to the receipt of spent fuel under 
     paragraph (1)(A), such first spent fuel payment under 
     paragraph (1)(B) shall be reduced by an amount equal to \1/
     12\ of such annual payment under paragraph (1)(A) for each 
     full month less than 6 that has not elapsed since the last 
     annual payment under paragraph (1)(A).
       ``(5) Restrictions.--The Secretary may not restrict the 
     purposes for which the payments under this section may be 
     used.
       ``(6) Dispute.--In the event of a dispute concerning such 
     agreement, the Secretary shall resolve such dispute, 
     consistent with this Act and applicable State law.
       ``(7) Construction.--The signature of the Secretary on a 
     valid benefits agreement under this section shall constitute 
     a commitment by the United States to make payments in 
     accordance with such agreement under section 401(c)(2).
       ``(j) Initial Land Conveyances.
       ``(1) Conveyances of public lands.--One hundred and twenty 
     days after enactment of this Act, all right, title and 
     interest of the United States in the property described in 
     paragraph (2), and improvements thereon, together with all 
     necessary easements for utilities and ingress and egress to 
     such property, including, but not limited to, the right to 
     improve those easements, are conveyed by operation of law to 
     the County of Lincoln, Nevada, unless the county notifies the 
     Secretary of Interior or the head of such other appropriate 
     agency in writing within 60 days of such date of enactment 
     that it elects not to take title to all or any part of the 
     property, except that any lands conveyed to the County of 
     Lincoln under this subsection that are subject to a Federal 
     grazing permit or lease or a similar federally granted permit 
     or lease shall be conveyed between 60 and 120 days of the 
     earliest time the Federal agency administering or granting 
     the permit or lease would be able to legally terminate such 
     right under the statutes and regulations existing at the date 
     of enactment of this Act, unless Lincoln County and the 
     affected holder of the permit or lease negotiate an agreement 
     that allows for an earlier conveyance.
       ``(2) Special Conveyances.--Notwithstanding any other law, 
     the following public lands depicted on the maps and legal 
     descriptions dated October 11, 1995, shall be conveyed under 
     paragraph (1) to the County of Lincoln, Nevada:
       Map 10: Lincoln County, Parcel M, Industrial Park Site
       Map 11: Lincoln County, Parcel F, Mixed Use Industrial Site
       Map 13: Lincoln County, Parcel J, Mixed Use, Alamo 
     Community Expansion Area
       Map 14: Lincoln County, Parcel E, Mixed Use, Pioche 
     Community Expansion Area
       Map 15: Lincoln County, Parcel B, Landfill Expansion Site.
       ``(3) Construction.--The maps and legal descriptions of 
     special conveyances referred to in paragraph (2) shall have 
     the same force and effect as if they were included in this 
     Act. The Secretary may correct clerical and typographical 
     errors in the maps and legal descriptions and make minor 
     adjustments in the boundaries of the sites.
       ``(4) Evidence of title transfer.--Upon the request of the 
     County of Lincoln, Nevada, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall provide evidence of title transfer.

     [``SEC. 202. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

       [``(a) Transportation Readiness.--The Secretary shall take 
     those actions that are necessary and appropriate to ensure 
     that the Secretary is able to transport safely spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste from sites designated 
     by the contract holders to mainline transportation 
     facilities, using routes that minimize, to the maximum 
     practicable extent consistent with Federal requirements 
     governing transportation of hazardous materials, 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste through populated areas, beginning not 
     later than November 30, 1999, and, by that date, shall, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, develop 
     and implement a comprehensive management plan that ensures 
     that safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste from the sites designated by the contract 
     holders to the interim storage facility site beginning not 
     later than November 30, 1999.
       [``(b) Transportation Planning.--In conjunction with the 
     development of the logistical plan in accordance with 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall update and modify, as 
     necessary, the Secretary's transportation institutional plans 
     to ensure that institutional issues are addressed and 
     resolved on a schedule to support the commencement of 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste to the interim storage facility no later 
     than November 30, 1999. Among other things, such planning 
     shall provide a schedule and process for addressing and 
     implementing, as necessary, transportation routing plans, 
     transportation contracting plans, transportation training in 
     accordance with Section 203, and public education regarding 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high level 
     radioactive waste; and transportation tracking programs.

     [``SEC. 203. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS.

       [``(a) Package Certification.--No spent nuclear fuel or 
     high-level radioactive waste may be transported by or for the 
     Secretary under this Act except in packages that have been 
     certified for such purposes by the Commission.
       [``(b) State Notification.--The Secretary shall abide by 
     regulations of the Commission regarding advance notification 
     of State and local governments prior to transportation of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste under this 
     Act.
       [``(c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide 
     technical assistance and funds to States, units of local 
     government, and Indian tribes through whose jurisdiction the 
     Secretary plans to transport substantial amounts of spent 
     nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste for training for 
     public safety officials of appropriate units of local 
     government. The Secretary shall also provide technical 
     assistance and funds for training directly to national 
     nonprofit employee organizations which demonstrate experience 
     in implementing and operating worker health and safety 
     training and education programs and demonstrate the ability 
     to reach and involve in training programs target populations 
     of workers who are or will be directly engaged in the 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste, or emergency response or post-emergency 
     response with respect to such transportation. Training shall 
     cover procedures required for safe routine transportation of 
     these materials, as well as procedures for dealing with 
     emergency response situations, and shall be consistent with 
     any training standards established by the Secretary of 
     Transportation in accordance with subsection (g). The 
     Secretary's duty to provide technical and financial 
     assistance under this subsection shall be limited to amounts 
     specified in annual appropriations.]

     ``SEC. 202. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.

       ``(a) Transportation Readiness.--The Secretary--
       ``(1) shall take such actions as are necessary and 
     appropriate to ensure that the Secretary is able to transport 
     safely spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste 
     from sites designated by the contract holders to mainline 
     transportation facilities and from the mainline 
     transportation facilities to the interim storage facility or 
     repository, using routes that minimize, to the maximum 
     practicable extent consistent with Federal requirements 
     governing transportation of hazardous materials, 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste through populated areas, beginning not 
     later than November 30, 1999; and
       ``(2) not later than November 30, 1999, shall, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and 
     affected States and tribes, develop and implement a 
     comprehensive management plan that ensures that safe 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste from the sites designated by the contract 
     holders to the interim storage facility site beginning not 
     later than that date.
       ``(b) Transportation Planning.--
       ``(1) In general.--In conjunction with the development of 
     the logistical plan in accordance with subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall update

[[Page S2884]]

     and modify, as necessary, the Secretary's transportation 
     institutional plans to ensure that institutional issues are 
     addressed and resolved on a schedule to support the 
     commencement of transportation of spent nuclear fuel and 
     high-level radioactive waste to the interim storage facility 
     not later than November 30, 1999.
       ``(2) Matters to be addressed.--Among other things, 
     planning under paragraph (1) shall provide a schedule and 
     process for addressing and implementing, as necessary--
       ``(A) transportation routing plans;
       ``(B) transportation contracting plans;
       ``(C) transportation training in accordance with section 
     203;
       ``(D) public education regarding transportation of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste; and
       ``(E) transportation tracking programs.
       ``(c) Shipping Campaign Transportation Plans.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a 
     transportation plan for the implementation of each shipping 
     campaign (as that term is defined by the Secretary) from each 
     site at which high-level nuclear waste is stored, in 
     accordance with the requirements stated in Department of 
     Energy Order No. 460.2 and the Program Manager's Guide.
       ``(2) Requirements.--A shipping campaign transportation 
     plan shall--
       ``(A) be fully integrated with State, and tribal government 
     notification, inspection, and emergency response plans along 
     the preferred shipping route or State-designated alternative 
     route identified under subsection (d); and
       ``(B) be consistent with the principles and procedures 
     developed for the safe transportation of transuranic waste to 
     the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (unless the Secretary 
     demonstrates that a specific principle or procedure is 
     inconsistent with a provision of this Act).
       ``(d) Safe Shipping Routes and Modes.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall evaluate the 
     relative safety of the proposed shipping routes and shipping 
     modes from each shipping origin to the interim storage 
     facility or repository compared with the safety of 
     alternative modes and routes.
       ``(2) Considerations.--The evaluation under paragraph (1) 
     shall be conducted in a manner consistent with regulations 
     promulgated by the Secretary of Transportation under 
     authority of chapter 51 of title 49, United States Code, and 
     the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under authority of the 
     Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), as 
     applicable.
       ``(3) Designation of preferred shipping route and mode.--
     Following the evaluation under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
     shall designate preferred shipping routes and modes from each 
     civilian nuclear power reactor and Department of Energy 
     facility that stores spent nuclear fuel or other high-level 
     defense waste.
       ``(4) Selection of primary shipping route.--If the 
     Secretary designates more than 1 preferred route under 
     paragraph (3), the Secretary shall select a primary route 
     after considering, at a minimum, historical accident rates, 
     population, significant hazards, shipping time, shipping 
     distance, and mitigating measures such as limits on the speed 
     of shipments.
       ``(5) Use of primary shipping route and mode.--Except in 
     cases of emergency, for all shipments conducted under this 
     Act, the Secretary shall cause the primary shipping route and 
     mode or State-designated alternative route under chapter 51 
     of title 49, United States Code, to be used. If a route is 
     designated as a primary route for any reactor or Department 
     of Energy facility, the Secretary may use that route to 
     transport spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste 
     from any other reactor or Department of Energy facility.
       ``(6) Training and technical assistance.--Following 
     selection of the primary shipping routes, or State-designated 
     alternative routes, the Secretary shall focus training and 
     technical assistance under section 203(c) on those routes.
       ``(7) Preferred rail routes.--
       ``(A) Regulation.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary of Transportation, pursuant to authority under 
     other provisions of law, shall promulgate a regulation 
     establishing procedures for the selection of preferred routes 
     for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear 
     waste by rail.
       ``(B) Interim provision.--During the period beginning on 
     the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 
     and ending on the date of issuance of a final regulation 
     under subparagraph (A), rail transportation of spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste shall be conducted in 
     accordance with regulatory requirements in effect on that 
     date and with this section.

     ``SEC. 203. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS.

       ``(a) Package Certification.--No spent nuclear fuel or 
     high-level radioactive waste may be transported by or for the 
     Secretary under this Act except in packages that have been 
     certified for such purposes by the Commission.
       ``(b) State Notification.--The Secretary shall abide by 
     regulations of the Commission regarding advance notification 
     of State and tribal governments prior to transportation of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste under this 
     Act.
       ``(c) Technical Assistance.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) States and indian tribes.--As provided in paragraph 
     (3), the Secretary shall provide technical assistance and 
     funds to States and Indian tribes for training of public 
     safety officials of appropriate units of State, local, and 
     tribal government. A State shall allocate to local 
     governments within the State a portion any funds that the 
     Secretary provides to the State for technical assistance and 
     funding.
       ``(B) Employee organizations.--The Secretary shall provide 
     technical assistance and funds for training directly to 
     nonprofit employee organizations and joint labor-management 
     organizations that demonstrate experience in implementing and 
     operating worker health and safety training and education 
     programs and demonstrate the ability to reach and involve in 
     training programs target populations of workers who are or 
     will be directly engaged in the transportation of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, or emergency 
     response or post-emergency response with respect to such 
     transportation.
       ``(C) Training.--Training under this section--
       ``(i) shall cover procedures required for safe routine 
     transportation of materials and procedures for dealing with 
     emergency response situations;
       ``(ii) shall be consistent with any training standards 
     established by the Secretary of Transportation under 
     subsection (g); and
       ``(iii) shall include--

       ``(I) a training program applicable to persons responsible 
     for responding to emergency situations occurring during the 
     removal and transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-
     level radioactive waste;
       ``(II) instruction of public safety officers in procedures 
     for the command and control of the response to any incident 
     involving the waste; and
       ``(III) instruction of radiological protection and 
     emergency medical personnel in procedures for responding to 
     an incident involving spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste being transported.

       ``(2) No shipments if no training.--(A) There will be no 
     shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste through the jurisdiction of any State or the 
     reservation lands of any Indian tribe eligible for grants 
     under paragraph (3)(B) unless technical assistance and funds 
     to implement procedures for safe routine transportation and 
     for dealing with emergency response situations under 
     paragraph (1)(A) have been available to a State or Indian 
     tribe for at least 2 years prior to any shipment: Provided, 
     however, That the Secretary may ship spent nuclear fuel and 
     high-level radioactive waste if technical assistance or funds 
     have not been made available due to (1) an emergency, 
     including the sudden and unforeseen closure of a highway or 
     rail line or the sudden and unforeseen need to remove spent 
     fuel from a reactor because of an accident, or (2) the 
     refusal to accept technical assistance by a State or Indian 
     tribe, or (3) fraudulent actions which violate Federal law 
     governing the expenditure of Federal funds.
       ``(B) In the event the Secretary is required to transport 
     spent fuel or high level radioactive waste through a 
     jurisdiction prior to 2 years after the provision of 
     technical assistance or funds to such jurisdiction, the 
     Secretary shall, prior to such shipment, hold meetings in 
     each State and Indian reservation through which the shipping 
     route passes in order to present initial shipment plans and 
     receive comments. Department of Energy personnel trained in 
     emergency response shall escort each shipment. Funds and all 
     Department of Energy training resources shall be made 
     available to States and Indian tribes along the shipping 
     route no later than three months prior to the commencement of 
     shipments: Provided, however, That in no event shall such 
     shipments exceed 1,000 metric tons per year, And provided 
     further, That no such shipments shall be conducted more than 
     four years after the effective date of the Nuclear Waste 
     Policy Act of 1997.
       ``(3) Grants.--
       ``(A) In general.--To implement this section, grants shall 
     be made under section 401(c)(2).
       ``(B) Grants for development of plans.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall make a grant of at 
     least $150,000 to each State through the jurisdiction of 
     which and each federally recognized Indian tribe through the 
     reservation lands of which a shipment of spent nuclear fuel 
     or high-level radioactive waste will be made under this Act 
     for the purpose of developing a plan to prepare for such 
     shipments.
       ``(ii) Limitation.--A grant shall be made under clause (i) 
     only to a State or a federally recognized Indian tribe that 
     has the authority to respond to incidents involving shipments 
     of hazardous material.
       ``(C) Grants for implementation of plans.--
       ``(i) In general.--Annual implementation grants shall be 
     made to States and Indian tribes that have developed a plan 
     to prepare for shipments under this Act under subparagraph 
     (B). The Secretary, in submitting annual departmental budget 
     to Congress for funding of implementation grants under this 
     section, shall be guided by the State and tribal plans 
     developed under subparagraph (B). As part of the Department 
     of Energy's annual budget request, the Secretary shall report 
     to Congress on--

       ``(I) the funds requested by states and federally 
     recognized Indian tribes to implement this subsection;
       ``(II) the amount requested by the President for 
     implementation; and
       ``(III) the rationale for any discrepancies between the 
     amounts requested by States and federally recognized Indian 
     tribes and the amounts requested by the President.

       ``(ii) Allocation.--Of funds available for grants under 
     this subparagraph for any fiscal year--

       ``(I) 25 percent shall be allocated by the Secretary to 
     ensure minimum funding and program capability levels in all 
     States and Indian tribes based on plans developed under 
     subparagraph (B); and
       ``(II) 75 percent shall be allocated to States and Indian 
     tribes in proportion to the number of shipment miles that are 
     projected to be made in total shipments under this Act 
     through each jurisdiction.

       ``(4) Availability of funds for shipments.--Funds under 
     paragraph (1) shall be

[[Page S2885]]

     provided for shipments to an interim storage facility or 
     repository, regardless of whether the interim storage 
     facility or repository is operated by a private entity or by 
     the Department of Energy.
       ``(d) Public Education.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
     program to educate the public regarding the transportation of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, with an 
     emphasis upon those States, units of local government, and 
     Indian tribes through whose jurisdiction the Secretary plans 
     to transport substantial amounts of spent nuclear fuel or 
     high-level radioactive waste.
       ``(e) Compliance With Transportation Regulations.--Any 
     person that transports spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     [1986] 1997, pursuant to a contract with the Secretary, shall 
     comply with all requirements governing such transportation 
     issued by the Federal, State, and local governments, and 
     Indian tribes, in the same way and to the same extent that 
     any person engaging in that transportation that is in or 
     affects interstate commerce must comply with such 
     requirements, as required by 49 U.S.C. sec. 5126.
       ``(f) Employee Protection.--Any person engaged in the 
     interstate commerce of spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste under contract to the Secretary pursuant to 
     this Act shall be subject to and comply fully with the 
     employee protection provisions of 49 U.S.C. 20109 and 49 
     U.S.C. 31105.
       ``(g) Training Standard.--(1) No later than 12 months after 
     the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     1997, the Secretary of Transportation, pursuant to authority 
     under other provisions of law, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Labor and the Commission, shall promulgate a 
     regulation establishing training standards applicable to 
     workers directly involved in the removal and transportation 
     of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The 
     regulation shall specify minimum training standards 
     applicable to workers, including managerial personnel. The 
     regulation shall require that the employer possess evidence 
     of satisfaction of the applicable training standard before 
     any individual may be employed in the removal and 
     transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste.
       ``(2) If the Secretary of Transportation determines, in 
     promulgating the regulation required by subparagraph (1), 
     that regulations promulgated by the Commission 
     establish adequate training standards for workers, then 
     the Secretary of Transportation can refrain from 
     promulgating additional regulations with respect to worker 
     training in such activities. The Secretary of 
     Transportation and the Commission shall work through their 
     Memorandum of Understanding to ensure coordination of 
     worker training standards and to avoid duplicative 
     regulation.
       ``(3) The training standards required to be promulgated 
     under subparagraph (1) shall, among other things deemed 
     necessary and appropriate by the Secretary of Transportation, 
     include the following provisions--
       ``(A) a specified minimum number of hours of initial 
     offsite instruction and actual field experience under the 
     direct supervision of a trained, experienced supervisor;
       ``(B) a requirement that onsite managerial personnel 
     receive the same training as workers, and a minimum number of 
     additional hours of specialized training pertinent to their 
     managerial responsibilities; and
       ``(C) a training program applicable to persons responsible 
     for responding to and cleaning up emergency situations 
     occurring during the removal and transportation of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
       ``(4) There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary of Transportation, from general revenues, such sums 
     as may be necessary to perform his duties under this 
     subsection.

     ``SEC. 204. INTERIM STORAGE.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary shall design, 
     construct, and operate a facility for the interim storage of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the 
     interim storage facility site. The interim storage facility 
     shall be subject to licensing pursuant to the Atomic Energy 
     Act of 1954 in accordance with the Commission's regulations 
     governing the licensing of independent spent fuel storage 
     installations, which regulations shall be amended by the 
     Commission as necessary to implement the provisions of this 
     Act. The interim storage facility shall commence operation in 
     phases in accordance with subsection (b).
       ``(b) Schedule.--(1) The Secretary shall proceed forthwith 
     and without further delay with all activities necessary to 
     begin storing spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste at the interim storage facility at the interim storage 
     facility site by November 30, 1999, except that:
       ``(A) The Secretary shall not begin any construction 
     activities at the interim storage facility site before 
     December 31, 1998.
       ``(B) The Secretary shall cease all activities (except 
     necessary termination activities) at the Yucca Mountain site 
     if the President determines, in his discretion, on or before 
     December 31, 1998, based on a preponderance of the 
     information available at such time, that the Yucca Mountain 
     site is unsuitable for development as a repository, including 
     geologic and engineered barriers, because of a substantial 
     likelihood that a repository of useful size cannot be 
     designed, licensed, and constructed at the Yucca Mountain 
     site.
       ``(C) No later than June 30, 1998, the Secretary shall 
     provide to the President and to the Congress a viability 
     assessment of the Yucca Mountain site. The viability 
     assessment shall include--
       ``(i) the preliminary design concept for the critical 
     elements of the repository and waste package,
       ``(ii) a total system performance assessment, based upon 
     the design concept and the scientific data and analysis 
     available by June 30, 1998, describing the probable behavior 
     of the repository in the Yucca Mountain geologic setting 
     relative to the overall system performance standard set forth 
     in section 205(d) of this Act,
       ``(iii) a plan and cost estimate for the remaining work 
     required to complete a license application, and
       ``(iv) an estimate of the costs to construct and operate 
     the repository in accordance with the design concept.
       ``(D) Within 18 months of a determination by the President 
     that the Yucca Mountain site is unsuitable for development as 
     a repository under subparagraph (B), the President shall 
     designate a site for the construction of an interim storage 
     facility. The President shall not designate the Hanford 
     Nuclear Reservation in the State of Washington as a site for 
     construction of an interim storage facility. If the President 
     does not designate a site for the construction of an interim 
     storage facility, or the construction of an interim storage 
     facility at the designated site is not approved by law within 
     24 months of the President's determination that the Yucca 
     Mountain site is not suitable for development as a 
     repository, the Secretary shall begin construction of an 
     interim storage facility at the interim storage facility site 
     as defined in section 2(19) of this Act. The interim storage 
     facility site as defined in section 2(19) of this Act shall 
     be deemed to be approved by law for purposes of this section.
       ``(2) Upon the designation of an interim storage facility 
     site by the President under paragraph (1)(D), the Secretary 
     shall proceed forthwith and without further delay with all 
     activities necessary to begin storing spent nuclear fuel and 
     high-level radioactive waste at an interim storage facility 
     at the designated site, except that the Secretary shall not 
     begin any construction activities at the designated interim 
     storage facility site before the designated interim storage 
     facility site is approved by law.
       ``(c) Design.--
       ``(1) The interim storage facility shall be designed in two 
     phases in order to commence operations no later than November 
     30, 1999. The design of the interim storage facility shall 
     provide for the use of storage technologies, licensed, 
     approved, or certified by the Commission for use at the 
     interim storage facility as necessary to ensure compatibility 
     between the interim storage facility and contract holders' 
     spent nuclear fuel and facilities, and to facilitate the 
     Secretary's ability to meet the Secretary's obligations under 
     this Act.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall consent to an amendment to the 
     contracts to provide for reimbursement to contract holders 
     for transportable storage systems purchased by contract 
     holders if the Secretary determines that it is cost effective 
     to use such transportable storage systems as part of the 
     integrated management system, provided that the Secretary 
     shall not be required to expend any funds to modify contract 
     holders' storage or transport systems or to seek additional 
     regulatory approvals in order to use such systems.
       ``(d) Licensing.--
       ``(1) Phases.--The interim storage facility shall be 
     licensed by the Commission in two phases in order to commence 
     operations no later than November 30, 1999.
       ``(2) First phase.--No later than 12 months after the date 
     of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Commission an application for a 
     license for the first phase of the interim storage facility. 
     The Environmental Report and Safety Analysis Report submitted 
     in support of such license application shall be consistent 
     with the scope of authority requested in the license 
     application. The license issued for the first phase of the 
     interim storage facility shall have a term of 20 years. 
     The interim storage facility licensed in the first phase 
     shall have a capacity of not more than 15,000 MTU. The 
     Commission shall issue a final decision granting or 
     denying the application for the first phase license no 
     later than 16 months from the date of the submittal of the 
     application for such license.
       ``(3) Second phase.--No later than 30 months after the date 
     of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Commission an application for a 
     license for the second phase interim storage facility. The 
     license for the second phase facility shall authorize a 
     storage capacity of 40,000 MTU. If the Secretary does not 
     submit the license application for construction of a 
     respository by February 1, 2002, or does not begin full spent 
     nuclear fuel receipt operations at a repository by January 
     17, 2010, the license shall authorize a storage capacity of 
     60,000 MTU. The license application shall be submitted such 
     that the license can be issued to permit the second phase 
     facility to begin full spent nuclear fuel receipt operations 
     no later than December 31, 2002. The license for the second 
     phase shall have an initial term of up to 100 years, and 
     shall be renewable for additional terms upon application of 
     the Secretary.
       ``(e) Additional Authority.--

[[Page S2886]]

       ``(1) Construction.--For purposes of complying with this 
     section, the Secretary may commence site preparation for the 
     interim storage facility as soon as practicable after the 
     date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 and 
     shall commence construction of each phase of the interim 
     storage facility subsequent to submittal of the license 
     application for such phase except that the Commission shall 
     issue an order suspending such construction at any time if 
     the Commission determines that such construction poses an 
     unreasonable risk to public health and safety or the 
     environment. The Commission shall terminate all or part of 
     such order upon a determination that the Secretary has taken 
     appropriate action to eliminate such risk.
       ``(2) Facility use.--Notwithstanding any otherwise 
     applicable licensing requirement, the Secretary may utilize 
     any facility owned by the Federal Government on the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 within the 
     boundaries of the interim storage facility site, in 
     connection with an imminent and substantial endangerment to 
     public health and safety at the interim storage facility 
     prior to commencement of operations during the second phase.
       ``(3) Emplacement of fuel and waste.--Subject to paragraph 
     (i), [once the Secretary has achieved] in each year in which 
     the actual emplacement rate is greater than the annual 
     acceptance rate for spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear 
     power reactors established pursuant to the contracts executed 
     prior to the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy 
     Act of 1997, as set forth in the Secretary's annual capacity 
     report dated March 1995 (DOE/RW-0457), the Secretary shall 
     accept, in an amount not less than 25 percent of the 
     difference between the contractual acceptance rate and the 
     [annual] actual emplacement rate for spent nuclear fuel from 
     civilian nuclear power reactors established under section 
     507(a), the following radioactive materials:
       ``(A) spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste of 
     domestic origin from civilian nuclear power reactors that 
     have permanently ceased operation on or before the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997;
       ``(B) spent nuclear fuel from foreign research reactors, as 
     necessary to promote nonproliferation objectives; and
       ``(C) spent nuclear fuel, including spent nuclear fuel from 
     naval reactors, and high-level radioactive waste from atomic 
     energy defense activities: Provided, however, That the 
     Secretary shall accept not less than 5 percent of the total 
     quantity of spent fuel accepted in any one year from the 
     categories of radioactive materials described in 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C).
       ``(f) National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.--
       ``(1) Preliminary decisionmaking activities.--The 
     Secretary's and President's activities under this section, 
     including, but not limited to, the selection of a site for 
     the interim storage facility, assessments, determinations and 
     designations made under section 204(b), the preparation and 
     submittal of a license application and supporting 
     documentation, the construction of a facility under paragraph 
     (e)(1) of this section, and facility use pursuant to 
     paragraph (e)(2) of this section shall be considered 
     preliminary decisionmaking activities for purposes of 
     judicial review. The Secretary shall not prepare an 
     environmental impact statement under section 102(2)(C) of the 
     National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
     4332(2)(C)) or any environmental review under subparagraph 
     (E) or (F) of such Act before conducting these activities.
       ``(2) Environmental impact statement.--
       ``(A) Final decision.--A final decision by the Commission 
     to grant or deny a license application for the first or 
     second phase of the interim storage facility shall be 
     accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement prepared 
     under section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
     Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). In preparing such 
     Environmental Impact Statement, the Commission--
       ``(i) shall ensure that the scope of the Environmental 
     Impact Statement is consistent with the scope of the 
     licensing action; and
       ``(ii) shall analyze the impacts of the transportation of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to the 
     interim storage facility in a generic manner.
       ``(B) Considerations.--Such Environmental Impact Statement 
     shall not consider--
       ``(i) the need for the interim storage facility, including 
     any individual component thereof;
       ``(ii) the time of the initial availability of the interim 
     storage facility;
       ``(iii) any alternatives to the storage of spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the interim storage 
     facility;
       ``(iv) any alternatives to the site of the facility as 
     designated by the Secretary in accordance with subsection 
     (a);
       ``(v) any alternatives to the design criteria for such 
     facility or any individual component thereof, as specified by 
     the Secretary in the license application; or
       ``(vi) the environmental impacts of the storage of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste at the interim 
     storage facility beyond the initial term of the license or 
     the term of the renewal period for which a license renewal 
     application is made.
       ``(g) Judicial Review.--Judicial review of the Commission's 
     environmental impact statement under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
     shall be consolidated with judicial review of the 
     Commission's licensing decision. No court shall have 
     jurisdiction to enjoin the construction or operation of the 
     interim storage facility prior to its final decision on 
     review of the Commission's licensing action.
       ``(h) Waste Confidence.--The Secretary's obligation to 
     construct and operate the interim storage facility in 
     accordance with this section and the Secretary's obligation 
     to develop an integrated management system in accordance with 
     the provisions of this Act, shall provide sufficient and 
     independent grounds for any further findings by the 
     Commission of reasonable assurance that spent nuclear fuel 
     and high-level radioactive waste will be disposed of safely 
     and on a timely basis for purposes of the Commission's 
     decision to grant or amend any license to operate any 
     civilian nuclear power reactor under the Atomic Energy Act of 
     1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.).
       ``(i) Storage of Other Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level 
     Radioactive Waste.--No later than 18 months following the 
     date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, 
     the Commission shall, by rule, establish criteria for the 
     storage in the interim storage facility of fuel and waste 
     listed in subsection (e)(3) (A) through (C), to the extent 
     such criteria are not included in regulations issued by the 
     Commission and existing on the date of enactment of the 
     Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997. Following establishment of 
     such criteria, the Secretary shall seek authority, as 
     necessary, to store fuel and waste listed in subsection 
     (e)(3) (A) through (C) at the interim storage facility. None 
     of the activities carried out pursuant to this subsection 
     shall delay, or otherwise affect, the development, 
     construction, licensing, or operation of the interim storage 
     facility.
       ``(j) Savings Clause.--The Commission shall, by rule, 
     establish procedures for the licensing of any technology for 
     the dry storage of spent nuclear fuel by rule and without, to 
     the maximum extent possible, the need for site-specific 
     approvals by the Commission. Nothing in this Act shall affect 
     any such procedures, or any licenses or approvals issued 
     pursuant to such procedures in effect on the date of 
     enactment.

     ``SEC. 205. PERMANENT REPOSITORY.

       ``(a) Repository Characterization.--
       ``(1) Guidelines.--The guidelines promulgated by the 
     Secretary and published at 10 CFR part 960 are annulled and 
     revoked and the Secretary shall make no assumptions or 
     conclusions about the licensability of the Yucca Mountain 
     site as a repository by reference to such guidelines.
       ``(2) Site characterization activities.--The Secretary 
     shall carry out appropriate site characterization activities 
     at the Yucca Mountain site in accordance with the Secretary's 
     program approach to site characterization. The Secretary 
     shall modify or eliminate those site characterization 
     activities designed only to demonstrate the suitability of 
     the site under the guidelines referenced in paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Schedule date.--Consistent with the schedule set 
     forth in the program approach, as modified to be consistent 
     with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, no later than 
     February 1, 2002, the Secretary shall apply to the Commission 
     for authorization to construct a repository. If, at any time 
     prior to the filing of such application, the Secretary 
     determines that the Yucca Mountain site cannot satisfy the 
     Commission's regulations applicable to the licensing of a 
     geologic repository, the Secretary shall terminate site 
     characterization activities at the site, notify Congress and 
     the State of Nevada of the Secretary's determination and the 
     reasons therefor, and recommend to Congress not later than 
     6 months after such determination furthers actions, 
     including the enactment of legislation, that may be needed 
     to manage the Nation's spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste.
       ``(4) Maximizing capacity.--In developing an application 
     for authorization to construct the repository, the Secretary 
     shall seek to maximize the capacity of the repository, in the 
     most cost-effective manner, consistent with the need for 
     disposal capacity.
       ``(b) Repository Licensing.--Upon the completion of any 
     licensing proceeding for the first phase of the interim 
     storage facility, the Commission shall amend its regulations 
     governing the disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste in geologic repositories to the extent 
     necessary to comply with this Act. Subject to subsection (c), 
     such regulations shall provide for the licensing of the 
     repository according to the following procedures:
       ``(1) Construction authorization.--The Commission shall 
     grant the Secretary a construction authorization for the 
     repository upon determining that there is reasonable 
     assurance that spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste can be disposed of in the repository--
       ``(A) in conformity with the Secretary's application, the 
     provisions of this Act, and the regulations of the 
     Commission;
       ``(B) without unreasonable risk to the health and safety of 
     the public; and
       ``(C) consistent with the common defense and security.
       ``(2) License.--Following substantial completion of 
     construction and the filing of any additional information 
     needed to complete the license application, the Commission 
     shall issue a license to dispose of spent nuclear fuel and 
     high-level radioactive waste in

[[Page S2887]]

     the repository if the Commission determines that the 
     repository has been constructed and will operate--
       ``(A) in conformity with the Secretary's application, the 
     provisions of this Act, and the regulations of the 
     Commission;
       ``(B) without unreasonable risk to the health and safety of 
     the public; and
       ``(C) consistent with the common defense and security.
       ``(3) Closure.--After emplacing spent nuclear fuel and 
     high-level radioactive waste in the repository and collecting 
     sufficient confirmatory data on repository performance to 
     reasonably confirm the basis for repository closure 
     consistent with the Commission's regulations applicable to 
     the licensing of a repository, as modified in accordance with 
     this Act, the Secretary shall apply to the Commission to 
     amend the license to permit permanent closure of the 
     repository. The Commission shall grant such license amendment 
     upon finding that there is reasonable assurance that the 
     repository can be permanently closed--
       ``(A) in conformity with the Secretary's application to 
     amend the license, the provisions of this Act, and the 
     regulations of the Commission;
       ``(B) without unreasonable risk to the health and safety of 
     the public; and
       ``(C) consistent with the common defense and security.
       ``(4) Post-closure.--The Secretary shall take those actions 
     necessary and appropriate at the Yucca Mountain site to 
     prevent any activity at the site subsequent to repository 
     closure that poses an unreasonable risk of--
       ``(A) breaching the repository's engineered or geologic 
     barriers; or
       ``(B) increasing the exposure of individual members of the 
     public to radiation beyond the release standard established 
     in subsection (d)(1).
       ``(c) Modification of Repository Licensing Procedure.--The 
     Commission's regulations shall provide for the modification 
     of the repository licensing procedure, as appropriate, in the 
     event that the Secretary seeks a license to permit the 
     emplacement in the repository, on a retrievable basis, of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste as is 
     necessary to provide the Secretary with sufficient 
     confirmatory data on repository performance to reasonably 
     confirm the basis for repository closure consistent with 
     applicable regulations.
       ``(d) Repository Licensing Standards.--The Administrator of 
     the Environmental Protection Agency shall, pursuant to 
     authority under others provisions of law, issue generally 
     applicable standards for the protection of the public from 
     releases of radioactive materials or radioactivity from the 
     repository. Such standards shall be consistent with the 
     overall system performance standard established by this 
     subsection unless the Administrator determines by rule that 
     the overall system performance standard would constitute an 
     unreasonable risk to health and safety. The Commission's 
     repository licensing determinations for the protection of the 
     public shall be based solely on a finding whether the 
     repository can be operated in conformance with the overall 
     system performance standard established in paragraph (1), 
     applied in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (2), 
     and the Administrator's radiation protection standards. The 
     Commission shall amend its regulations in accordance with 
     subsection (b) to incorporate each of the following licensing 
     standards:
       ``(1) Establishment of overall system performance 
     standard.--The standard for protection of the public from 
     release of radioactive material or radioactivity from the 
     repository shall prohibit releases that would expose an 
     average member of the general population in the vicinity of 
     the Yucca Mountain site to an annual dose in excess of 100 
     millirems unless the Commission determines by rule that such 
     standard would constitute an unreasonable risk to health and 
     safety and establishes by rule another standard which will 
     protect health and safety. Such standard shall constitute an 
     overall system performance standard.
       ``(2) Application of overall system performance standard.--
     The Commission shall issue the license if it finds reasonable 
     assurance that for the first 1,000 years following the 
     commencement of repository operations, the overall system 
     performance standard will be met based on a probabilistic 
     evaluation, as appropriate, of compliance with the overall 
     system performance standard in paragraph (1).
       ``(3) Factors.--For purposes of making the finding in 
     paragraph (2)--
       ``(A) the Commission shall not consider catastrophic events 
     where the health consequences of individual events themselves 
     can be reasonably assumed to exceed the health consequences 
     due to the impact of the events on repository performance;
       ``(B) for the purpose of this section, an average member of 
     the general population in the vicinity of the Yucca Mountain 
     site means a person whose physiology, age, general health, 
     agricultural practices, eating habits, and social behavior 
     represent the average for persons living in the vicinity of 
     the site. Extremes in social behavior, eating habits, or 
     other relevant practices or characteristics shall not be 
     considered; and
       ``(C) the Commission shall assume that, following 
     repository closure, the inclusion of engineered barriers and 
     the Secretary's post-closure actions at the Yucca Mountain 
     site, in accordance with subsection (b)(4), shall be 
     sufficient to--
       ``(i) prevent any human activity at the site that poses an 
     unreasonable risk of breaching the repository's engineered or 
     geologic barriers; and
       ``(ii) prevent any increase in the exposure of individual 
     members of the public to radiation beyond the allowable 
     limits specified in paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Additional analysis.--The Commission shall analyze 
     the overall system performance through the use of 
     probabilistic evaluations that use best estimate assumptions, 
     data, and methods for the period commencing after the first 
     1,000 years of operation of the repository and terminating at 
     10,000 years after the commencement of operation of the 
     repository.
       ``(e) National Environmental Policy Act.--
       ``(1) Submission of statement.--Construction and operation 
     of the repository shall be considered a major Federal action 
     significantly affecting the quality of the human environment 
     for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
     (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The Secretary shall submit an 
     environmental impact statement on the construction and 
     operation of the repository to the Commission with the 
     license application and shall supplement such environmental 
     impact statement as appropriate.
       ``(2) Considerations.--For purposes of complying with the 
     requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
     and this section, the Secretary shall not consider in the 
     environmental impact statement the need for the repository, 
     or alternative sites or designs for the repository.
       ``(3) Adoption by commission.--The Secretary's 
     environmental impact statement and any supplements thereto 
     shall, to the extent practicable, be adopted by the 
     Commission in connection with the issuance by the Commission 
     of a construction authorization under subsection (b)(1), a 
     license under subsection (b)(2), or a license amendment under 
     subsection (b)(3). To the extent such statement or supplement 
     is adopted by the Commission, such adoption shall be deemed 
     to also satisfy the responsibilities of the Commission under 
     the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and no further 
     consideration shall be required, except that nothing in this 
     subsection shall affect any independent responsibilities of 
     the Commission to protect the public health and safety under 
     the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. In any such statement or 
     supplement prepared with respect to the repository, the 
     Commission shall not consider the need for a repository, or 
     alternate sites or designs for the repository.
       ``(f) Judicial Review.--No court shall have jurisdiction to 
     enjoin issuance of the Commission repository licensing 
     regulations prior to its final decision on review of such 
     regulations.

     ``SEC. 206. LAND WITHDRAWAL.

       ``(a) Withdrawal and Reservation.--
       ``(1) Withdrawal.--Subject to valid existing rights, the 
     interim storage facility site and the Yucca Mountain site, as 
     described in subsection (b), are withdrawn from all forms of 
     entry, appropriation, and disposal under the public land 
     laws, including the mineral leasing laws, the geothermal 
     leasing laws, the material sale laws, and the mining laws.
       ``(2) Jurisdiction.--Jurisdiction of any land within the 
     interim storage facility site and the Yucca Mountain site 
     managed by the Secretary of the Interior or any other Federal 
     officer is transferred to the Secretary.
       ``(3) Reservation.--The interim storage facility site and 
     the Yucca Mountain site are reserved for the use of the 
     Secretary for the construction and operation, respectively, 
     of the interim storage facility and the repository and 
     activities associated with the purposes of this title.
       ``(b) Land Description.--
       ``(1) Boundaries.--The boundaries depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Interim Storage Facility Site Withdrawal Map,'' 
     dated March 13, 1996, and on file with the Secretary, are 
     established as the boundaries of the Interim Storage Facility 
     site.
       ``(2) Boundaries.--The boundaries depicted on the map 
     entitled `Yucca Mountain Site Withdrawal Map,' dated July 9, 
     1996, and on file with the Secretary, are established as the 
     boundaries of the Yucca Mountain site.
       ``(3) Notice and maps.--Within 6 months of the date of the 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(A) publish in the Federal Register a notice containing a 
     legal description of the interim storage facility site; and
       ``(B) file copies of the maps described in paragraph (1), 
     and the legal description of the interim storage facility 
     site with the Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
     Governor of Nevada, and the Archivist of the United States.
       ``(4) Notice and maps.--Concurrent with the Secretary's 
     application to the Commission for authority to construct the 
     repository, the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) publish in the Federal Register a notice containing a 
     legal description of the Yucca Mountain site; and
       ``(B) file copies of the maps described in paragraph (2), 
     and the legal description of the Yucca Mountain site with the 
     Congress, the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor of 
     Nevada, and the Archivist of the United States.
       ``(5) Construction.--The maps and legal descriptions of the 
     interim storage facility site and the Yucca Mountain site 
     referred to in this subsection shall have the same force

[[Page S2888]]

     and effect as if they were included in this Act. The 
     Secretary may correct clerical and typographical errors in 
     the maps and legal descriptions and make minor adjustments in 
     the boundaries of the sites.

                      ``TITLE III--LOCAL RELATIONS

     ``SEC. 301. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

       ``(a) Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to make grants 
     to any affected Indian tribe or affected unit of local 
     government for purposes of enabling the affected Indian tribe 
     or affected unit of local government--
       ``(1) to review activities taken with respect to the Yucca 
     Mountain site for purposes of determining any potential 
     economic, social, public health and safety, and environmental 
     impacts of the integrated management system on the affected 
     Indian tribe or the affected unit of local government and its 
     residents;
       ``(2) to develop a request for impact assistance under 
     subsection (c);
       ``(3) to engage in any monitoring, testing, or evaluation 
     activities with regard to such site;
       ``(4) to provide information to residents regarding any 
     activities of the Secretary, or the Commission with respect 
     to such site; and
       ``(5) to request information from, and make comments and 
     recommendations to, the Secretary regarding any activities 
     taken with respect to such site.
       ``(b) Salary and Travel Expenses.--Any salary or travel 
     expense that would ordinarily be incurred by any affected 
     Indian tribe or affected unit of local government may not be 
     considered eligible for funding under this section.
       ``(c) Financial and Technical Assistance.--
       ``(1) Assistance requests.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     offer to provide financial and technical assistance to any 
     affected Indian tribe or affected unit of local government 
     requesting such assistance. Such assistance shall be designed 
     to mitigate the impact on the affected Indian tribe or 
     affected unit of local government of the development of the 
     integrated management system.
       ``(2) Report.--Any affected Indian tribe or affected unit 
     of local government may request assistance under this section 
     by preparing and submitting to the Secretary a report on the 
     economic, social, public health and safety, and environmental 
     impacts that are likely to result from activities of the 
     integrated management system.
       ``(d) Other Assistance.--
       ``(1) Taxable amounts.--In addition to financial assistance 
     provided under this subsection, the Secretary is authorized 
     to grant to any affected Indian tribe or affected unit of 
     local government an amount each fiscal year equal to the 
     amount such affected Indian tribe or affected unit of local 
     government, respectively, would receive if authorized to tax 
     integrated management system activities, as such affected 
     Indian tribe or affected unit of local government taxes the 
     non-Federal real property and industrial activities occurring 
     within such affected unit of local government.
       ``(2) Termination.--Such grants shall continue until such 
     time as all such activities, development, and operations are 
     terminated at such site.
       ``(3) Assistance to indian tribes and units of local 
     government.--
       ``(A) Period.--Any affected Indian tribe or affected unit 
     of local government may not receive any grant under paragraph 
     (1) after the expiration of the 1-year period following the 
     date on which the Secretary notifies the affected Indian 
     tribe or affected unit of local government of the termination 
     of the operation of the integrated management system.
       ``(B) Activities.--Any affected Indian tribe or affected 
     unit of local government may not receive any further 
     assistance under this section if the integrated management 
     system activities at such site are terminated by the 
     Secretary or if such activities are permanently enjoined by 
     any court.

     ``SEC. 302. ON-SITE REPRESENTATIVE.

       ``The Secretary shall offer to the unit of local government 
     within whose jurisdiction a site for an interim storage 
     facility or repository is located under this Act an 
     opportunity to designate a representative to conduct on-site 
     oversight activities at such site. The Secretary is 
     authorized to pay the reasonable expenses of such 
     representative.

     ``SEC. 303. ACCEPTANCE OF BENEFITS.

       ``(a) Consent.--The acceptance or use of any of the 
     benefits provided under this title by any affected Indian 
     tribe or affected unit of local government shall not be 
     deemed to be an expression of consent, express, or implied, 
     either under the Constitution of the State or any law 
     thereof, to the siting of an interim storage facility or 
     repository in the State of Nevada, any provision of such 
     Constitution or laws to the contrary notwithstanding.
       ``(b) Arguments.--Neither the United States nor any other 
     entity may assert any argument based on legal or equitable 
     estoppel, or acquiescence, or waiver, or consensual 
     involvement, in response to any decision by the State to 
     oppose the siting in Nevada of an interim storage facility or 
     repository premised upon or related to the acceptance or use 
     of benefits under this title.
       ``(c) Liability.--No liability of any nature shall accrue 
     to be asserted against any official of any governmental unit 
     of Nevada premised solely upon the acceptance or use of 
     benefits under this title.

     ``SEC. 304. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF FUNDS.

       ``None of the funding provided under this title may be 
     used--
       ``(1) directly or indirectly to influence legislative 
     action on any matter pending before Congress or a State 
     legislature or for any lobbying activity as provided in 
     section 1913 of title 18, United States Code;
       ``(2) for litigation purposes; and
       ``(3) to support multistate efforts or other coalition-
     building activities inconsistent with the purposes of this 
     Act.

     ``SEC. 305. LAND CONVEYANCES.

       ``(a) Conveyances of Public Lands.--One hundred and twenty 
     days after enactment of this Act, all rights, title and 
     interest of the United States in the property described in 
     subsection (b), and improvements thereon, together with all 
     necessary easements for utilities and ingress and egress to 
     such property, including, but not limited to, the right to 
     improve those easements, are conveyed by operation of law to 
     the County of Nye, Nevada, unless the county notifies the 
     Secretary of the Interior or the head of such other 
     appropriate agency in writing within 60 days of such date of 
     enactment that it elects not to take title to all or any part 
     of the property, except that any lands conveyed to the County 
     of Nye under this subsection that are subject to a Federal 
     grazing permit or lease or a similar federally granted permit 
     or lease shall be conveyed between 60 and 120 days of the 
     earliest time the Federal agency administering or granting 
     the permit or lease would be able to legally terminate such 
     right under the statutes and regulations existing at the date 
     of enactment of this Act, unless Nye County and the affected 
     holder of the permit or lease negotiate an agreement that 
     allows for an earlier conveyance.
       ``(b) Special Conveyances.--Notwithstanding any other law, 
     the following public lands depicted on the maps and legal 
     descriptions dated October 11, 1995, and on file with the 
     Secretary shall be conveyed under subsection (a) to the 
     County of Nye, Nevada:
       Map 1: Proposed Pahrump Industrial Park Site
       Map 2: Proposed Lathrop Wells (Gate 510) Industrial Park 
     Site
       Map 3: Pahrump Landfill Sites
       Map 4: Amargosa Valley Regional Landfill Site
       Map 5: Amargosa Valley Municipal Landfill Site
       Map 6: Beatty Landfill/Transfer Station Site
       Map 7: Round Mountain Landfill Site
       Map 8: Tonopah Landfill Site
       Map 9: Gabbs Landfill Site.
       ``(3) Construction.--The maps and legal descriptions of 
     special conveyances referred to in subsection (b) shall have 
     the same force and effect as if they were included in this 
     Act. The Secretary may correct clerical and typographical 
     errors in the maps and legal descriptions and make minor 
     adjustments in the boundaries of the sites.
       ``(4) Evidence of title transfer.--Upon the request of the 
     County of Nye, Nevada, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     provide evidence of title transfer.

                  ``TITLE IV--FUNDING AND ORGANIZATION

     ``SEC. 401. PROGRAM FUNDING.

       ``(a) Contracts.--
       ``(1) Authority of secretary.--In the performance of the 
     Secretary's functions under this Act, the Secretary is 
     authorized to enter into contracts with any person who 
     generates or holds title to spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste of domestic origin for the acceptance of 
     title and possession, transportation, interim storage, and 
     disposal of such waste or spent fuel. Such contracts shall 
     provide for payment of annual fees to the Secretary in the 
     amounts set by the Secretary pursuant to paragraphs (2) and 
     (3). Except as provided in paragraph (3), fees assessed 
     pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the Treasury of 
     the United States and shall be available for use by the 
     Secretary pursuant to this section until expended. Subsequent 
     to the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     1997, the contracts executed under section 302(a) of the 
     Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 shall continue in effect 
     under this Act, provided that the Secretary shall consent to 
     an amendment to such contracts as necessary to implement the 
     provisions of this Act.
       ``(2) Annual fees.--
       ``(A) For electricity generated by civilian nuclear power 
     reactors and sold between January 7, 1983, and September 30, 
     [2002] 2003, the fee under paragraph (1) shall be equal to 
     1.0 mill per kilowatt hour generated and sold. For 
     electricity generated by civilian nuclear power reactors and 
     sold on or after October 1, [2002] 2003, the aggregate amount 
     of fees collected during each fiscal year shall be no greater 
     than the annual level of appropriations for expenditures on 
     those activities consistent with subsection (d) for that 
     fiscal year, minus--
       ``(i) any unobligated balance collected pursuant to this 
     section during the previous fiscal year; and
       ``(ii) the percentage of such appropriation required to be 
     funded by the Federal Government pursuant to section 403;

     The Secretary shall determine the level of the annual fee for 
     each civilian nuclear power reactor based on the amount of 
     electricity generated and sold, except that the annual fee 
     collected under this subparagraph shall not exceed 1.0 mill 
     per kilowatt-hour generated and sold.
       ``(B) Expenditures if shortfall.--If, during any fiscal 
     year on or after October 1, 2002, the aggregate amount of 
     fees assessed pursuant to subparagraph (A) is less than the

[[Page S2889]]

     annual level of appropriations for expenditures on those 
     activities specified in subsection (d) for that fiscal year, 
     minus--
       ``(i) any unobligated balance collected pursuant to this 
     section during the previous fiscal year; and
       ``(ii) the percentage of such appropriations required to be 
     funded by the Federal Government pursuant to section 403;
     the Secretary may make expenditures from the Nuclear Waste 
     Fund up to the level of the fees assessed.
       ``(C) Rules.--The Secretary shall, by rule, establish 
     procedures necessary to implement this paragraph.
       ``(3) One-time fee.--For spent nuclear fuel or solidified 
     high-level radioactive waste derived from spent nuclear fuel, 
     which fuel was used to generate electricity in a civilian 
     nuclear power reactor prior to January 7, 1983, the fee shall 
     be in an amount equivalent to an average charge of 1.0 mill 
     per kilowatt-hour for electricity generated by such spent 
     nuclear fuel, or such solidified high-level waste derived 
     therefrom. Payment of such one-time fee prior to the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 shall 
     satisfy the obligation imposed under this paragraph. Any one-
     time fee paid and collected subsequent to the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997 pursuant to 
     the contracts, including any interest due pursuant to such 
     contracts, shall be paid to the Nuclear Waste Fund no later 
     than September 30, 2002. The Commission shall suspend the 
     license of any licensee who fails or refuses to pay the full 
     amount of the fee referred to in this paragraph on or before 
     September 30, 2002, and the license shall remain suspended 
     until the full amount of the fee referred to in this 
     paragraph is paid. The person paying the fee under this 
     paragraph to the Secretary shall have no further financial 
     obligation to the Federal Government for the long-term 
     storage and permanent disposal of spent fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste derived from spent nuclear fuel used to 
     generate electricity in a civilian power reactor prior to 
     January 7, 1983.
       ``(4) Adjustments to fee.--The Secretary shall annually 
     review the amount of the fees established by paragraphs (2) 
     and (3), together with the existing balance of the Nuclear 
     Waste Fund on the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste 
     Policy Act of 1997, to evaluate whether collection of the fee 
     will provide sufficient revenues to offset the costs as 
     defined in subsection (c)(2). In the event the Secretary 
     determines that the revenues being collected are either 
     insufficient or excessive to recover the costs incurred by 
     the Federal Government that are specified in subsection 
     (c)(2), the Secretary shall propose an adjustment to the fee 
     in subsection (c)(2) to ensure full cost recovery. The 
     Secretary shall immediately transmit the proposal for such an 
     adjustment to both Houses of Congress.
       ``(b) Advance Contracting Requirement.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) License issuance and renewal.--The Commission shall 
     not issue or renew a license to any person to use a 
     utilization or production facility under the authority of 
     section 103 or 104 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
     U.S.C. 2133, 2134) unless--
       ``(i) such person has entered into a contract under 
     subsection (a) with the Secretary; or
       ``(ii) the Secretary affirms in writing that such person is 
     actively and in good faith negotiating with the Secretary for 
     a contract under this section.
       ``(B) Precondition.--The Commission, as it deems necessary 
     or appropriate, may require as a precondition to the issuance 
     or renewal of a license under section 103 or 104 of the 
     Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2133, 2134) that the 
     applicant for such license shall have entered into an 
     agreement with the Secretary for the disposal of spent 
     nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste that may result 
     from the use of such license.
       ``(2) Disposal in repository.--Except as provided in 
     paragraph (1), no spent nuclear fuel or high-level 
     radioactive waste generated or owned by any person (other 
     than a department of the United States referred to in section 
     101 or 102 of title 5, United States Code) may be disposed of 
     by the Secretary in the repository unless the generator or 
     owner of such spent fuel or waste has entered into a contract 
     under subsection (a) with the Secretary by not later than the 
     date on which such generator or owner commences generation 
     of, or takes title to, such spent fuel or waste.
       ``(3) Assignment.--The rights and duties of contract 
     holders are assignable.
       ``(c) Nuclear Waste Fund.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Nuclear Waste Fund established in 
     the Treasury of the United States under section 302(c) of the 
     Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 shall continue in effect 
     under this Act and shall consist of--
       ``(A) the existing balance in the Nuclear Waste Fund on the 
     date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997; 
     and
       ``(B) all receipts, proceeds, and recoveries realized under 
     subsections (a), and (c)(3) subsequent to the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, which 
     shall be deposited in the Nuclear Waste Fund immediately upon 
     their realization.
       ``(2) Use.--The Secretary may make expenditures from the 
     Nuclear Waste Fund, subject to subsections (d) and (e), only 
     for purposes of the integrated management system.
       ``(3) Administration of nuclear waste fund.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall hold 
     the Nuclear Waste Fund and, after consultation with the 
     Secretary, annually report to the Congress on the financial 
     condition and operations of the Nuclear Waste Fund during the 
     preceding fiscal year.
       ``(B) Amounts in excess of current needs.--If the Secretary 
     determines that the Nuclear Waste Fund contains at any time 
     amounts in excess of current needs, the Secretary may request 
     the Secretary of the Treasury to invest such amounts, or any 
     portion of such amounts as the Secretary determines to be 
     appropriate, in obligations of the United States--
       ``(i) having maturities determined by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury to be appropriate to the needs of the Nuclear Waste 
     Fund; and
       ``(ii) bearing interest at rates determined to be 
     appropriate by the Secretary of the Treasury, taking into 
     consideration the current average market yield on outstanding 
     marketable obligations of the United States with remaining 
     periods to maturity comparable to the maturities of such 
     investments, except that the interest rate on such 
     investments shall not exceed the average interest rate 
     applicable to existing borrowings.
       ``(C) Exemption.--Receipts, proceeds, and recoveries 
     realized by the Secretary under this section, and 
     expenditures of amounts from the Nuclear Waste Fund, shall be 
     exempt from annual apportionment under the provisions of 
     subchapter II of chapter 15 of title 31, United States Code.
       ``(d) Budget.--The Secretary shall submit the budget for 
     implementation of the Secretary's responsibilities under this 
     Act to the Office of Management and Budget annually along 
     with the budget of the Department of Energy submitted at such 
     time in accordance with chapter 11 of title 31, United States 
     Code. The budget shall consist of the estimates made by the 
     Secretary of expenditures under this Act and other relevant 
     financial matters for the succeeding 3 fiscal years, and 
     shall be included in the budget of the United States 
     Government.
       ``(e) Appropriations.--The Secretary may make expenditures 
     from the Nuclear Waste Fund, subject to appropriations, which 
     shall remain available until expended.

     ``SEC. 402. OFFICE OF CIVILIAN RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT.

       ``(a) Establishment.--There hereby is established within 
     the Department of Energy an Office of Civilian Radioactive 
     Waste Management. The Office shall be headed by a Director, 
     who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the 
     advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall be 
     compensated at the rate payable for level IV of the Executive 
     Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.
       ``(b) Functions of Director.--The Director of the Office 
     shall be responsible for carrying out the functions of the 
     Secretary under this Act, subject to the general supervision 
     of the Secretary. The Director of the Office shall be 
     directly responsible to the Secretary.

     ``SEC. 403. FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION.

       ``(a) Allocation.--No later than 1 year from the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, acting 
     pursuant to section 553 of title 5, United States Code, the 
     Secretary shall issue a final rule establishing the 
     appropriate portion of the costs of managing spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste under this Act 
     allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of 
     spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from 
     atomic energy defense activities and spent nuclear fuel from 
     foreign research reactors. The share of costs allocable to 
     the management of spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities and 
     spent nuclear fuel from foreign research reactors shall 
     include,
       ``(1) an appropriate portion of the costs associated with 
     research and development activities with respect to 
     development of an interim storage facility and repository; 
     and
       ``(2) as appropriate, interest on the principal amounts due 
     calculated by reference to the appropriate Treasury bill rate 
     as if the payments were made at a point in time consistent 
     with the payment dates for spent nuclear fuel and high-level 
     radioactive waste under the contracts.
       ``(b) Appropriation Request.--In addition to any request 
     for an appropriation from the Nuclear Waste Fund, the 
     Secretary shall request annual appropriations from general 
     revenues in amounts sufficient to pay the costs of the 
     management of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive 
     waste from atomic energy defense activities and spent nuclear 
     fuel from foreign research reactors, as established under 
     subsection (a).
       ``(c) Report.--In conjunction with the annual report 
     submitted to Congress under section 702, the Secretary shall 
     advise the Congress annually of the amount of spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy 
     defense activities and spent nuclear fuel from foreign 
     research reactors, requiring management in the integrated 
     management system.
       ``(d) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretary, from general revenues, for 
     carrying out the purposes of this Act, such sums as may be 
     necessary to pay the costs of the management of spent nuclear 
     fuel and high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy 
     defense activities and spent nuclear fuel from foreign 
     research reactors, as established under subsection (a).

            ``TITLE V--GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     ``SEC. 501. COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER LAWS.

       ``If the requirements of any Federal, State, or local law 
     (including a requirement imposed by regulation or by any 
     other means

[[Page S2890]]

     under such a law) are inconsistent with or duplicative of the 
     requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 
     et seq.) or of this Act, the Secretary shall comply only with 
     the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and of this 
     Act in implementing the integrated management system.

     ``SEC. 502. JUDICIAL REVIEW OF AGENCY ACTIONS.

       ``(a) Jurisdiction of the United States Courts of 
     Appeals.--
       ``(1) Original and exclusive jurisdiction.--Except for 
     review in the Supreme Court of the United States, and except 
     as otherwise provided in this Act, the United States courts 
     of appeals shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction 
     over any civil action--
       ``(A) for review of any final decision or action of the 
     Secretary, the President, or the Commission under this Act;
       ``(B) alleging the failure of the Secretary, the President, 
     or the Commission to make any decision, or take any action, 
     required under this Act;
       ``(C) challenging the constitutionality of any decision 
     made, or action taken, under any provision of this Act; or
       ``(D) for review of any environmental impact statement 
     prepared or environmental assessment pursuant to the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969  (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) 
     with respect to any action under this Act or alleging a 
     failure to prepare such statement with respect to any such 
     action.
       ``(2) Venue.--The venue of any proceeding under this 
     section shall be in the judicial circuit in which the 
     petitioner involved resides or has its principal office, or 
     in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of 
     Columbia Circuit.
       ``(b) Deadline for Commencing Action.-- A civil action for 
     judicial review described under subsection (a)(1) may be 
     brought no later than 180 days after the date of the decision 
     or action or failure to act involved, as the case may be, 
     except that if a party shows that he did not know of the 
     decision or action complained of (or of the failure to act), 
     and that a reasonable person acting under the circumstances 
     would not have known, such party may bring a civil action no 
     later than 180 days after the date such party acquired actual 
     or constructive knowledge or such decision, action, or 
     failure to act.
       ``(c) Application of Other Law.--The provisions of this 
     section relating to any matter shall apply in lieu of the 
     provisions of any other Act relating to the same matter.

     ``SEC. 503. LICENSING OF FACILITY EXPANSIONS AND 
                   TRANSSHIPMENTS.

       ``(a) Oral Argument.--In any Commission hearing under 
     section 189 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2239) 
     on an application for a license, or for an amendment to an 
     existing license, filed after January 7, 1983, to expand the 
     spent nuclear fuel storage capacity at the site of a civilian 
     nuclear power reactor, through the use of high-density fuel 
     storage racks, fuel rod compaction, the transshipment of 
     spent nuclear fuel to another civilian nuclear power reactor 
     within the same utility system, the construction of 
     additional spent nuclear fuel pool capacity or dry storage 
     capacity, or by other means, the Commission shall, at the 
     request of any party, provide an opportunity for oral 
     argument with respect to any matter which the Commission 
     determines to be in controversy among the parties. The oral 
     argument shall be preceded by such discovery procedures as 
     the rules of the Commission shall provide. The Commission 
     shall require each party, including the Commission staff, to 
     submit in written form, at the time of the oral argument, a 
     summary of the facts, data, and arguments upon which such 
     party proposes to rely that are known at such time to such 
     party. Only facts and data in the form of sworn testimony or 
     written submission may be relied upon by the parties during 
     oral argument. Of the materials that may be submitted by the 
     parties during oral argument, the Commission shall only 
     consider those facts and data that are submitted in the form 
     of sworn testimony or written submission.
       ``(b) Adjudicatory Hearing.--
       ``(1) Designation.--At the conclusion of any oral argument 
     under subsection (a), the Commission shall designate any 
     disputed question of fact, together with any remaining 
     questions of law, for resolution in an adjudicatory hearing 
     only if it determines that--
       ``(A) there is a genuine and substantial dispute of fact 
     which can only be resolved with sufficient accuracy by the 
     introduction of evidence in an adjudicatory hearing; and
       ``(B) the decision of the Commission is likely to depend in 
     whole or in part on the resolution of such dispute.
       ``(2) Determination.--In making a determination under this 
     subsection, the Commission--
       ``(A) shall designate in writing the specific facts that 
     are in genuine and substantial dispute, the reason why the 
     decision of the agency is likely to depend on the resolution 
     of such facts, and the reason why an adjudicatory hearing is 
     likely to resolve the dispute; and
       ``(B) shall not consider--
       ``(i) any issue relating to the design, construction, or 
     operation of any civilian nuclear power reactor already 
     licensed to operate at such site, or any civilian nuclear 
     power reactor to which a construction permit has been granted 
     at such site, unless the Commission determines that any such 
     issue substantially affects the design, construction, or 
     operation of the facility or activity for which such license 
     application, authorization, or amendment is being considered; 
     or
       ``(ii) any siting or design issue fully considered and 
     decided by the Commission in connection with the issuance of 
     a construction permit or operating license for a civilian 
     nuclear power reactor at such site, unless--

       ``(I) such issue results from any revision of siting or 
     design criteria by the Commission following such decision; 
     and
       ``(II) the Commission determines that such issue 
     substantially affects the design, construction, or operation 
     of the facility or activity for which such license 
     application, authorization, or amendment is being considered.

       ``(3) Application.--The provisions of paragraph (2)(B) 
     shall apply only with respect to licenses, authorizations, or 
     amendments to licenses or authorizations, applied for under 
     the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.) before 
     December 31, 2005.
       ``(4) Construction.--The provisions of this section shall 
     not apply to the first application for a license or license 
     amendment received by the Commission to expand onsite spent 
     fuel storage capacity by the use of a new technology not 
     previously approved for use at any nuclear power plant by the 
     Commission.
       ``(c) Judicial Review.--No court shall hold unlawful or set 
     aside a decision of the Commission in any proceeding 
     described in subsection (a) because of a failure by the 
     Commission to use a particular procedure pursuant to this 
     section unless--
       ``(1) an objection to the procedure used was presented to 
     the Commission in a timely fashion or there are extraordinary 
     circumstances that excuse the failure to present a timely 
     objection; and
       ``(2) the court finds that such failure has precluded a 
     fair consideration and informed resolution of a significant 
     issue of the proceeding taken as a whole.

     ``SEC. 504. SITING A SECOND REPOSITORY.

       ``(a) Congressional Action Required.--The Secretary may not 
     conduct site-specific activities with respect to a second 
     repository unless Congress has specifically authorized and 
     appropriated funds for such activities.
       ``(b) Report.--The Secretary shall report to the President 
     and to Congress on or after January 1, 2007, but not later 
     than January 1, 2010, on the need for a second repository.

     ``SEC. 505. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE 
                   WASTE SITE CLOSURE.

       ``(a) Financial Arrangements.--
       (1) Standards and instructions.--The Commission shall 
     establish by rule, regulation, or order, after public notice, 
     and in accordance with section 181 of the Atomic Energy Act 
     of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2231), such standards and instructions as 
     the Commission may deem necessary or desirable to ensure in 
     the case of each license for the disposal of low-level 
     radioactive waste that an adequate bond, surety, or other 
     financial arrangement (as determined by the Commission) will 
     be provided by a licensee to permit completion of all 
     requirements established by the Commission for the 
     decontamination, decommissioning, site closure, and 
     reclamation of sites, structures, and equipment used in 
     conjunction with such low-level radioactive waste. Such 
     financial arrangements shall be provided and approved by the 
     Commission, or, in the case of sites within the boundaries of 
     any agreement State under section 274 of the Atomic Energy 
     Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2021), by the appropriate State or 
     State entity, prior to issuance of licenses for low-level 
     radioactive waste disposal or, in the case of licenses in 
     effect on January 7, 1983, prior to termination of such 
     licenses.
       ``(2) Bonding, surety, or other financial arrangements.--If 
     the Commission determines that any long-term maintenance or 
     monitoring, or both, will be necessary at a site described in 
     paragraph (1), the Commission shall ensure before termination 
     of the license involved that the licensee has made available 
     such bonding, surety, or other financial arrangements as may 
     be necessary to ensure that any necessary long-term 
     maintenance or monitoring needed for such site will be 
     carried out by the person having title and custody for such 
     site following license termination.
       ``(b) Title and Custody.--
       ``(1) Authority of secretary.--The Secretary shall have 
     authority to assume title and custody of low-level 
     radioactive waste and the land on which such waste is 
     disposed of, upon request of the owner of such waste and land 
     and following termination of the license issued by the 
     Commission for such disposal, if the Commission determines 
     that--
       ``(A) the requirements of the Commission for site closure, 
     decommissioning, and decontamination have been met by the 
     licensee involved and that such licensee is in compliance 
     with the provisions of subsection (a);
       ``(B) such title and custody will be transferred to the 
     Secretary without cost to the Federal Government; and
       ``(C) Federal ownership and management of such site is 
     necessary or desirable in order to protect the public health 
     and safety, and the environment.
       ``(2) Protection.--If the Secretary assumes title and 
     custody of any such waste and land under this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall maintain such waste and land in a manner that 
     will protect the public health and safety, and the 
     environment.

[[Page S2891]]

       ``(c) Special Sites.--If the low-level radioactive waste 
     involved is the result of a licensed activity to recover 
     zirconium, hafnium, and rare earths from source material, the 
     Secretary, upon request of the owner of the site involved, 
     shall assume title and custody of such waste and the land on 
     which it is disposed when such site has been decontaminated 
     and stabilized in accordance with the requirements 
     established by the Commission and when such owner has made 
     adequate financial arrangements approved by the Commission 
     for the long-term maintenance and monitoring of such site.

     ``SEC. 506. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION TRAINING 
                   AUTHORIZATION.

       ``The Commission is authorized and directed to promulgate 
     regulations, or other appropriate regulatory guidance, for 
     the training and qualifications of civilian nuclear power 
     plant operators, supervisors, technicians, and other 
     appropriate operating personnel. Such regulations or 
     guidance shall establish simulator training requirements 
     for applicants for civilian nuclear power plant operator 
     licenses and for operator requalification programs; 
     requirements governing Commission administration of 
     requalification examinations; requirements for operating 
     tests at civilian nuclear power plant simulators, and 
     instructional requirements for civilian nuclear power 
     plant licensee personnel training programs.

     ``SEC. 507. EMPLACEMENT SCHEDULE.

       ``(a) The emplacement schedule shall be implemented in 
     accordance with the following:
       ``(1) Emplacement priority ranking shall be determined by 
     the Department's annual `Acceptance Priority Ranking' report.
       ``(2) The Secretary's spent fuel emplacement rate shall be 
     no less than the following: 1,200 MTU in fiscal year 2000 and 
     1,200 MTU in fiscal year 2001; 2,000 MTU in fiscal year 2002 
     and 2,000 MTU in fiscal year 2003; 2,700 MTU in fiscal year 
     2004; and 3,000 MTU annually thereafter.
       ``(b) If the Secretary is unable to begin emplacement by 
     November 30, 1999 at the rates specified in subsection (a), 
     or if the cumulative amount emplaced in any year thereafter 
     is less than that which would have been accepted under the 
     emplacement rate specified in subsection (a), the Secretary 
     shall, as a mitigation measure, adjust the emplacement 
     schedule upward such that within 5 years of the start of 
     emplacement by the Secretary,
       ``(1) the total quantity accepted by the Secretary is 
     consistent with the total quantity that the Secretary would 
     have accepted if the Secretary had began emplacement in 
     fiscal year 2000, and
       ``(2) thereafter the emplacement rate is equivalent to the 
     rate that would be in place pursuant to paragraph (a) above 
     if the Secretary had commenced emplacement in fiscal year 
     2000.

     ``SEC. 508. TRANSFER OF TITLE.

       ``(a) Acceptance by the Secretary of any spent nuclear fuel 
     or high-level radioactive waste shall constitute a transfer 
     of title to the Secretary.
       ``(b) No later than 6 months following the date of 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, the 
     Secretary is authorized to accept all spent nuclear fuel 
     withdrawn from Dairyland Power Cooperative's La Crosse 
     Reactor and, upon acceptance, shall provide Dairyland Power 
     Cooperative with evidence of the title transfer. Immediately 
     upon the Secretary's acceptance of such spent nuclear fuel, 
     the Secretary shall assume all responsibility and liability 
     for the interim storage and permanent disposal thereof and is 
     authorized to compensate Dairyland Power Cooperative for any 
     costs related to operating and maintaining facilities 
     necessary for such storage from the date of acceptance until 
     the Secretary removes the spent nuclear fuel from the La 
     Crosse Reactor site.''

     ``SEC. 509. DECOMMISSIONING PILOT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     establish a Decommissioning Pilot Program to decommission and 
     decontaminate the sodium-cooled fast breeder experimental 
     test-site reactor located in northwest Arkansas.
       ``(b) Funding.--No funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund may be 
     used for the Decommissioning Pilot Program.

     ``SEC. 510. WATER RIGHTS.

       ``(a) No Federal Reservation.--Nothing in this Act or any 
     other Act of Congress shall constitute or be construed to 
     constitute either an express or implied Federal reservation 
     of water or water rights for any purpose arising under this 
     Act.
       ``(b) Acquisition and Exercise of Water Rights Under Nevada 
     Law.--The United States may acquire and exercise such water 
     rights as it deems necessary to carry out its 
     responsibilities under this Act pursuant to the substantive 
     and procedural requirements of the State of Nevada. Nothing 
     in this Act shall be construed to authorize the use of 
     eminent domain by the United States to acquire water rights 
     for such lands.
       ``(c) Exercise of Water Rights Generally Under Nevada 
     Laws.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the 
     exercise of water rights as provided under Nevada State laws.

            ``TITLE VI--NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD

     ``SEC. 601. DEFINITIONS.

       ``For purposes of this title--
       ``(1) Chairman.--The term `Chairman' means the Chairman of 
     the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board.
       ``(2) Board.--The term `Board' means the Nuclear Waste 
     Technical Review Board continued under section 602.

     ``SEC. 602. NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD.

       ``(a) Continuation of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review 
     Board.--The Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, established 
     under section 502(a) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 
     as constituted prior to the date of enactment of the Nuclear 
     Waste Policy Act of 1997, shall continue in effect subsequent 
     to the date of enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 
     1997.
       ``(b) Members.--
       ``(1) Number.--The Board shall consist of 11 members who 
     shall be appointed by the President not later than 90 days 
     after December 22, 1987, from among persons nominated by the 
     National Academy of Sciences in accordance with paragraph 
     (3).
       ``(2) Chair.--The President shall designate a member of the 
     Board to serve as Chairman.
       ``(3) National academy of sciences.--
       ``(A) Nominations.--The National Academy of Sciences shall, 
     not later than 90 days after December 22, 1987, nominate not 
     less than 22 persons for appointment to the Board from among 
     persons who meet the qualifications described in subparagraph 
     (C).
       ``(B) Vacancies.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
     nominate not less than 2 persons to fill any vacancy on the 
     Board from among persons who meet the qualifications 
     described in subparagraph (C).
       ``(C) Nominees.--
       ``(i) Each person nominated for appointment to the Board 
     shall be--

       ``(I) eminent in a field of science or engineering, 
     including environmental sciences; and
       ``(II) selected solely on the basis of established records 
     of distinguished service.

       ``(ii) The membership of the Board shall be representatives 
     of the broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines 
     related to activities under this title.
       ``(iii) No person shall be nominated for appointment to the 
     Board who is an employee of--

       ``(I) the Department of Energy;
       ``(II) a national laboratory under contract with the 
     Department of Energy; or
       ``(III) an entity performing spent nuclear fuel or high-
     level radioactive waste activities under contract with the 
     Department of Energy.

       ``(4) Vacancies.--Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled 
     by the nomination and appointment process described in 
     paragraphs (1) and (3).
       ``(5) Terms.--Members of the Board shall be appointed for 
     terms of 4 years, each such term to commence 120 days after 
     December 22, 1987, except that of the 11 members first 
     appointed to the Board, 5 shall serve for 2 years and 6 shall 
     serve for 4 years, to be designated by the President at the 
     time of appointment, except that a member of the Board whose 
     term has expired may continue to serve as a member of the 
     Board until such member's successor has taken office.

     ``SEC. 603. FUNCTIONS.

       [The Board shall limit its evaluations to the technical and 
     scientific validity solely of the following activities 
     undertaken directly by the Secretary after December 22, 
     1987--
       [``(1) site characterization activities; and
       [``(2) activities of the Secretary relating to the 
     packaging or transportation of spent nuclear fuel or high-
     level radioactive waste.]
       ``The Board shall evaluate the technical and scientific 
     validity of activities undertaken by the Secretary after 
     December 22, 1987, including--
       ``(1) site characterization activities; and
       ``(2) activities relating to the packaging or 
     transportation of high-level radioactive waste or spent 
     nuclear fuel.

     ``SEC. 604. INVESTIGATORY POWERS.

       ``(a) Hearings.--Upon request of the Chairman or a majority 
     of the members of the Board, the Board may hold such 
     hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 
     testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Board considers 
     appropriate. Any member of the Board may administer oaths or 
     affirmations to witnesses appearing before the Board. [The 
     Secretary or the Secretary's designee or designees shall not 
     be required to appear before the Board or any element of the 
     Board for more than 12 working days per calendar year.]
       ``(b) Production of Documents.--
       ``(1) Response to inquiries.--Upon the request of the 
     Chairman or a majority of the members of the Board, and 
     subject to existing law, the Secretary (or any contractor of 
     the Secretary) shall provide the Board with such records, 
     files, papers, data, or information [that is generally 
     available to the public] as may be necessary to respond to 
     any inquiry of the Board under this title.
       [``(2) Extent.--Subject to existing law, information 
     obtainable under paragraph (1) may include drafts of products 
     and documentation of work in progress.]
       ``(2) Availability of drafts.--Subject to existing law, 
     information obtainable under paragraph (1) shall not be 
     limited to final work products of the Secretary, but shall 
     include drafts of such products and documentation of work in 
     progress.

     ``SEC. 605. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.

       ``(a) In General.--Each member of the Board shall be paid 
     at the rate of pay payable for level III of the Executive 
     Schedule for each day (including travel time) such member is 
     engaged in the work of the Board.
       ``(b) Travel Expenses.--Each member of the Board may 
     receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsidence, in the

[[Page S2892]]

     same manner as is permitted under sections 5702 and 5703 of 
     title 5, United States Code.

     ``SEC. 606. STAFF.

       ``(a) Clerical Staff.--
       ``(1) Authority of chairman.--Subject to paragraph (2), the 
     Chairman may appoint and fix the compensation of such 
     clerical staff as may be necessary to discharge the 
     responsibilities of the Board.
       ``(2) Provisions of title 5.--Clerical staff shall be 
     appointed subject to the provisions of title 5, United States 
     Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
     shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 
     and subchapter III of chapter 3 of such title relating to 
     classification and General Schedule pay rates.
       ``(b) Professional Staff.--
       ``(1) Authority of chairman.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and 
     (3), the Chairman may appoint and fix the compensation of 
     such professional staff as may be necessary to discharge the 
     responsibilities of the Board.
       ``(2) Number.--Not more than 10 professional staff members 
     may be appointed under this subsection.
       ``(3) Title 5.--Professional staff members may be appointed 
     without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
     Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and 
     may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 
     and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to 
     classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that no 
     individual so appointed may receive pay in excess of the 
     annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General 
     Schedule.

     ``SEC. 607. SUPPORT SERVICES.

       ``(a) General Services.--To the extent permitted by law and 
     requested by the Chairman, the Administrator of General 
     Services shall provide the Board with necessary 
     administrative services, facilities, and support on a 
     reimbursable basis.
       ``(b) Accounting, Research, and Technology Assessment 
     Services.--The Comptroller General and the Librarian of 
     Congress shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to 
     the availability of funds, provide the Board with such 
     facilities, support, funds and services, including staff, as 
     may be necessary for the effective performance of the 
     functions of the Board.
       ``(c) Additional Support.--Upon the request of the 
     Chairman, the Board may secure directly from the head of any 
     department or agency of the United States information 
     necessary to enable it to carry out this title.
       ``(d) Mails.--The Board may use the United States mails in 
     the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
     departments and agencies of the United States.
       ``(e) Experts and Consultants.--Subject to such rules as 
     may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman may procure 
     temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of 
     title 5 of the United States Code, but at rates for 
     individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum 
     annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of the General 
     Schedule.

     ``SEC. 608. REPORT.

       ``The Board shall report not less than two times per year 
     to Congress and the Secretary its findings, conclusions, and 
     recommendations.

     ``SEC. 609. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       [``There are authorized to be appropriated for expenditures 
     such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
     this title.]
       ``Notwithstanding section 401(d), and subject to section 
     401(e), there are authorized to be appropriated for 
     expenditures from amounts in the Nuclear Waste Fund under 
     section 401(c) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the 
     provisions of this title.

     ``SEC. 610. TERMINATION OF THE BOARD.

       ``The Board shall cease to exist not later than one year 
     after the date on which the Secretary begins disposal of 
     spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste in the 
     repository.

                     ``TITLE VII--MANAGEMENT REFORM

     ``SEC. 701. MANAGEMENT REFORM INITIATIVES.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is directed to take 
     actions as necessary to improve the management of the 
     civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure that 
     the program is operated, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     in like manner as a private business.
       ``(b) Audits.--
       ``(1) Standard.--The Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste 
     Management, its contractors, and subcontractors at all tiers, 
     shall conduct, or have conducted, audits and examinations of 
     their operations in accordance with the usual and customary 
     practices of private corporations engaged in large nuclear 
     construction projects consistent with its role in the 
     program.
       ``(2) Time.--The management practices and performances of 
     the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management shall be 
     audited every 5 years by an independent management consulting 
     firm with significant experience in similar audits of private 
     corporations engaged in large nuclear construction projects. 
     The first such audit shall be conducted 5 years after the 
     enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997.
       [``(3) Comptroller general.--The Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall annually make an audit of the Office, in 
     accordance with such regulations as the Comptroller General 
     may prescribe. The Comptroller General shall have access to 
     such books, records, accounts, and other materials of the 
     Office as the Comptroller General determines to be necessary 
     for the preparation of such audit. The Comptroller General 
     shall submit to the Congress a report on the results of each 
     audit conducted under this section.]
       [``(4)] (3) Time.--No audit contemplated by this subsection 
     shall take longer than 30 days to conduct. An audit report 
     shall be issued in final form no longer than 60 days after 
     the audit is commenced.
       [``(5)] (4) Public documents.--All audit reports shall be 
     public documents and available to any individual upon 
     request.
       ``(d) Value Engineering.--The Secretary shall create a 
     value engineering function within the Office of Civilian 
     Radioactive Waste Management that reports directly to the 
     Director, which shall carry out value engineering functions 
     in accordance with the usual and customary practices of 
     private corporations engaged in large nuclear construction 
     projects.
       ``(e) Site Characterization.--The Secretary shall employ, 
     on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling to 
     identify appropriate parameters for the remaining site 
     characterization effort and to eliminate studies of 
     parameters that are shown not to affect long-term repository 
     performance.

     ``SEC. 702. REPORTING.

       ``(a) Initial Report.--Within 180 days of enactment of this 
     section, the Secretary shall report to Congress on its 
     planned actions for implementing the provisions of this Act, 
     including the development of the Integrated Waste Management 
     System. Such report shall include--
       ``(1) an analysis of the Secretary's progress in meeting 
     its statutory and contractual obligation to accept title to, 
     possession of, and delivery of spent nuclear fuel and high-
     level radioactive waste beginning no later than November 30, 
     1999, and in accordance with the acceptance schedule;
       ``(2) a detailed schedule and timeline showing each action 
     that the Secretary intends to take to meet the Secretary's 
     obligations under this Act and the contracts;
       ``(3) a detailed description of the Secretary's contingency 
     plans in the event that the Secretary is unable to meet the 
     planned schedule and timeline; and
       ``(4) an analysis by the Secretary of its funding needs for 
     fiscal years 1997 through 2001.
       ``(b) Annual Reports.--On each anniversary of the submittal 
     of the report required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
     make annual reports to the Congress for the purpose of 
     updating the information contained in such report. The annual 
     reports shall be brief and shall notify the Congress of:
       ``(1) any modifications to the Secretary's schedule and 
     timeline for meeting its obligations under this Act;
       ``(2) the reasons for such modifications, and the status of 
     the implementation of any of the Secretary's contingency 
     plans; and
       ``(3) the Secretary's analysis of its funding needs for the 
     ensuing 5 fiscal years.''

     ``SEC. 703. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       This Act shall become effective one day after enactment.''.

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, this begins our third day of debate on 
S. 104, the nuclear waste repository legislation, which has been 
introduced by myself and Senator Craig and a number of other 
cosponsors. This may not be a very exciting topic, Mr. President, but 
it is an important issue and it is an important responsibility for this 
body.
  What we have is a situation where, as the charts will show, at some 
80 sites in 41 States this waste has been accumulating. The Federal 
Government agreed in 1982 to accept this waste by 1998. Well, 1998 is 
next year. Now, the site that has been suggested as being the best for 
the waste is out in the Nevada desert at the Nevada test site.
  Again, to refresh the memories of my colleagues, this is what the 
site looks like. It was used for over 50 years for more than 800 
nuclear weapons tests. It is probably one of the more remote areas in 
the United States, but it is unique inasmuch as it has been a selected 
test site.
  Now, why this site? That is a legitimate question, and I know my 
colleagues from Nevada are very concerned about it being designated in 
their State. I am sympathetic to that. But the reality is that it has 
to be put somewhere, Mr. President. In the debate yesterday, my 
colleagues from Nevada claimed that during the development of our 
nuclear program, it was necessary to do our patriotic duty to designate 
an area out in the Nevada desert, and you might say their State was 
used for that purpose as a contribution to the effort to fight and win 
the cold war.
  I think it is fair to say, and the statement was made yesterday, that 
Congress chose that area to be studied for nuclear waste disposal for 
political reasons. Well, I don't know whether that is correct or not. 
It had to be somewhere. But Nevada is where we conducted nuclear tests, 
and where there is radioactivity from those tests. But

[[Page S2893]]

in the debate yesterday, the Senators from Nevada indicated there was 
no rational, technical, or scientific reason for placing a spent fuel 
storage facility in Nevada. Well, I don't know any other place in the 
country where we tested 800 nuclear bombs.
  Now, it's also important to note that the Department of Energy spent 
over a billion dollars studying other potential sites before narrowing 
the list to three sites, including Yucca Mountain. Congress settled on 
Yucca Mountain in 1987. It indicated that it had a unique geology, and 
it tied in the reality that the Nevada test site had been used to 
explode nuclear weapons for 50 years. In other words, it said that from 
a geological point of view, it meets our expectations. Secondly, it is 
an area that has been used, and, therefore, it should be sufficient for 
this type of permanent repository.
  As we look at this test site, we should recognize that the last 
weapon was exploded underground there in 1991. Underground tests are 
still being performed with nuclear materials being exploded with 
conventional explosives, as I understand it, from time to time--all 
with the wholehearted support, I might add, of the Nevada delegation. 
In fact, not too long ago, one of the Nevada Senators supported storing 
spent fuel at the site.
  I have a copy of a resolution that reappeared, from the Nevada 
assembly; it's joint resolution No. 15. That is a copy of the 
resolution, Mr. President, dated February 26, 1975. I am not going to 
read the whole resolution, but I think it is important to recognize 
this:

       Whereas, the people of southern Nevada have confidence in 
     the safety record of the Nevada test site and in the ability 
     of the staff to site and to maintain safety in handling of 
     nuclear materials.

  And, also:

       Whereas, nuclear waste disposal can be carried out at the 
     Nevada test site with minimal capital investment relative to 
     other locations.
  That is from the copy of the resolution that we have on the chart 
behind me.

       Therefore, be it resolved by the assembly and the State of 
     Nevada jointly that the legislature of the State of Nevada 
     strongly urges the Energy Research and Development 
     Administration to choose the Nevada test site for the 
     disposal of nuclear waste.

  Now, Mr. President, that was indicative of the attitude prevailing on 
February 26, 1975. The resolution was passed. It passed the Nevada 
Senate by a 12-6 vote, aided by the vote of one of our colleagues here 
in the Senate from Nevada, and it was signed by the Governor of Nevada, 
Mike O'Callaghan.
  Well, I ask, Mr. President, what has changed? That test site hasn't 
changed. It is still there. It still has a trained work force, still 
has an infrastructure for dealing with nuclear materials. The geology 
of the site certainly hasn't changed. Obviously, at least one of the 
Nevada Senators thought it was the best place to store nuclear waste in 
1975, or he would not have supported this resolution. In my opinion, 
when you are all through with going through the areas in the rest of 
the States, it is still the best place.
  Where are we today? Well, we are still on our way--business as usual 
around the Senate, putting off decisions. We began this debate in the 
104th Congress with the consideration of S. 1271. The Nevada Senators 
objected saying that the bill would gut environmental laws, allow 
unsafe transportation, and endanger the health and safety of Americans. 
We had objections from the administration saying that we were choosing 
Nevada as the site prior to the determination that the Yucca Mountain 
site would be viable as a permanent repository.

  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                      Committee Amendments En Bloc

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the committee 
amendments as presented be agreed to en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendments were agreed to en bloc.


                            Amendment No. 26

 (Purpose: To provide milestones and requirements that allow thorough 
analysis and public participation and decisions based on sound science)

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Murkowski] proposes an 
     amendment numbered 26.

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I believe that the Senator from South 
Carolina wishes to offer an amendment at this time.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                            Amendment No. 27

(Purpose: To provide that the Savannah River Site and Barnwell County, 
 South Carolina shall not be available for construction of an interim 
                           storage facility)

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from South Carolina [Mr. Thurmond], for himself 
     and Mr. Hollings, proposes an amendment numbered 27.
       On page 28, line 16, after ``Washington'' insert the 
     following: ``, and the Savannah River Site and Barnwell 
     County in the State of South Carolina,''.

  Mr. HOLLINGS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the amendment 
offered by myself and the senior Senator from South Carolina, Senator 
Thurmond.
  We all know the score, the chairman of the Energy and Natural 
Resources Committee has outlined the state of our nuclear waste policy 
and we are aware of the need to move this bill forward.
  Currently, DOE is contractually bound to begin receiving spent 
commercial nuclear fuel in 1998. Under the 1982 Nuclear Policy Act, DOE 
was directed to identify, construct, and operate an underground 
repository to dispose of the Nation's commercial nuclear fuel.
  Identifying such a site proved difficult, so in 1987 Congress 
intervened and directed DOE to study or characterize only one site, 
Yucca Mountain, NV. Since 1987 DOE has been studying the Yucca Mountain 
site to determine if it is a suitable site for the permanent 
repository. This characterization was to be completed and, if the site 
was suitable, a permanent facility was to be constructed by 1998.
  I don't need to point out how far this process has fallen behind. If 
it was on schedule then we would not be debating this bill today. It is 
now 1997, and DOE has not finished its site characterization work. In 
fact they tell me that, if there is no further delay and the site 
checks out, then the permanent repository will not be ready until 2010 
at the earliest.
  Obviously that causes a problem since last year a Federal court held 
that DOE does have an obligation to dispose of the waste by the 1998 
deadline. So where does the waste go in 1998? Well, to Senator 
Murkowski's credit, he is trying to answer that question. That solution 
is to construct a temporary storage facility at the Yucca Mountain if 
the site is suitable for the permanent repository.
  The Senator from Alaska has tried to accommodate a bunch of competing 
interests, and, hoping to avoid a veto by the White House, he has 
provided a means by which the President can identify an alternative 
site if the Yucca Mountain site is deemed unsuitable. It is this 
provision, allowing the President to designate an alternative temporary 
storage site, that brings me

[[Page S2894]]

here today. My friends from Oregon, Senators Wyden and Smith, both of 
whom are on the Energy Committee, offered a provision at markup to 
ensure that the DOE's Hanford Site be excluded as a possible 
alternative temporary storage site.
  As many of my colleagues know, the DOE's Savannah River Site is 
located in my State, and I am here today to explain why, like the 
Hanford Site, it is not a suitable site for a temporary facility. After 
my colleagues hear SRS's disadvantages, they will agree. SRS is not the 
place for this spent fuel.
  The amendment before us simply codifies that position. It simply 
states that the Savannah River Site and Barnwell County South Carolina, 
like Hanford, cannot be identified by the President as an alternative 
temporary storage site.
  I am not going to spend time arguing why Yucca Mountain is the best 
site for this facility. The chairman of the Energy Committee has done a 
fine job of that. What I will do is tell you why SRS is not the site.
  SRS is a 198,000-acre reservation located in South Carolina and 
abutting Georgia. It is 12 miles southwest of Augusta, GA, and 10 miles 
south of Aiken, SC. This is a highly populated area which has been and 
continues to grow rapidly. I have heard people argue that the Savannah 
River Site is some rural out-of-the-way place. Well, that is just not 
the case. The population within a 50-mile radius of SRS numbers about 
615,000. This obviously encompasses all of Aiken, SC, and Augusta, GA, 
whose combined population is more that 400,000 people, plus a number of 
smaller communities that are too numerous to mention.
  What is more astounding is that the population living within a 100-
mile radius of the site numbers 2.6 million people. This includes a 
number of larger cities including the capital of South Carolina, 
Columbia, Charleston, SC, Hilton Head, SC, Savannah GA, and Augusta, 
GA. In fact, there are private homes located on private lands located 
within 200 feet of the site.

  To say this is a far and out-of-the-way place is just not the case. 
Putting additional nuclear waste in such a highly populated area is 
crazy.
  In addition, as I understand the scientists, their most constant fear 
is that nuclear material is exposed to water and leaches into surface 
or subsurface waters and that this water carries the contamination off-
site. Therefore it is critical that this nuclear material be kept dry 
and away from the corrosive effects of water.
  Well, for anyone who has visited the Savannah River site, or, for 
that matter the lowcountry of South Carolina, they know that in reality 
it is all wetlands or as some say, a swamp. In fact, the Savannah River 
site is literally surrounded by water. There are extensive water 
resources on, under, and adjacent to the site.
  The Savannah River, which marks the border of the States of South 
Carolina and Georgia also marks the 20-mile western boundary of the 
site and six major streams flow through the site and into the river.
  It is this river, the Savannah, which supplies drinking water for 
Beaufort and Jasper Counties in South Carolina and the town of Port 
Wentworth, GA. In addition, it runs directly through the city of 
Savannah, GA, downstream and supports an active commercial and sport 
fishing industry.
  Studies indicate that portions of the site are within the 100-year 
flood plain, and although this information is not available, I would 
not be surprised to find that the entire site is within the 500-year 
flood plain.
  Under the surface there are several aquifer systems. The largest of 
which is the Cretaceous or Tuscoloosa Aquifer. It is a huge aquifer 
stretching all across the Southeast. In general, the groundwater on the 
site flows into one of the numerous streams or swamps on the site and 
then flows into the Savannah River which is, as I mentioned earlier, 
the source of drinking water for numerous cities and towns downstream.
  The water not making its way to the river is absorbed into the ground 
and eventually makes it to the groundwater. The level of this 
groundwater, like its flow, varies but in some places it is literally 
within inches of the surface. The rate of flow for this groundwater 
varies with areas where it travels as fast as several hundred meters a 
year. So it is not hard to imagine a scenario, and we have had cases, 
where nuclear contaminants have reached the groundwater and quickly 
moved off site.
  It is interesting to note, but not surprising, that virtually every 
county in South Carolina and Georgia has some number of households 
getting their drinking water directly from these subsurface aquifers. 
In fact, over 50 percent of the households in two counties that abut 
the site draw their drinking water from wells.
  Obviously, with the abundant wetlands, rivers, streams, and, an 
abundance of precipitation, averaging over 44 inches per year, the 
Savannah River site is not the place for this spent fuel--if you want 
to keep it dry.
  There are numerous other reasons to eliminate the Savannah River site 
from consideration. Not the least of which is that South Carolina and 
the Savannah River site are already doing their share to safely store 
nuclear waste. In fact, foreign research reactor fuel shipped from all 
over the world passes right by my front door as it is being shipped to 
Charleston and then up to the Savannah River site. In addition, the 
site is constantly receiving waste from the nation's nuclear defense 
facilities and domestic research reactors. We have all the waste we can 
handle.
  Trust me, I have visited the site repeatedly over my career, and I am 
aware of the cleanup job we face down there. We have spent years 
getting a waste processing facility up and running, and we are just now 
really beginning to clean up the 33 million gallons of liquid high-
level nuclear waste on site. That does not include all the other forms 
of waste: low-level, transuranic, and hazardous. To add more waste to a 
site which has its hands full cleaning up the mess caused by 40 years 
of nuclear weapons production is not the solution.
  It is clear given the dense population of the area and its geography 
that it is not the best site for any waste. Our goal should be to 
ensure that the Savannah River site is cleaned up and that its waste is 
stabilized and moved off-site. The site is not suitable to receive 
additional waste. This amendment simply ensures that the Savannah River 
site is not overrun with waste and that it continues without 
interruption the cleanup and stabilization of its existing 
contamination.
  I urge my colleagues to adopt the amendment. I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gregg). The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to 
call the roll.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Baucus pertaining to the introduction of S. 532 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Collins). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.
  (The remarks of Mr. Bingaman pertaining to the introduction of S. 532 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S2895]]

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Faircloth). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                      Unanimous Consent Agreement

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may be 
allowed to speak for up to 20 minutes, followed by Senator Reid and 
Senator Bryan for up to 10 minutes each, and further, that debate only 
be in order at this time.
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair recognizes the Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, if I 
understand the unanimous consent request, the manager of the bill will 
speak for 20 minutes, the Senators from Nevada will speak for 10 
minutes each, and there will be no further debate on this bill tonight. 
Is that correct?
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. It wasn't my intent necessarily to eliminate debate 
from any other Senator who may come down. I have no objection if that 
is the proposal from the other side.
  Mr. REID. I want no further debate tonight.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Then I would agree. If we may withhold that for a 
moment, let me check with the Cloakroom. I want to make sure we don't 
have anyone else.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thomas). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I advise my colleagues from Nevada that 
I agree to their alteration to the agreement which would limit debate 
to 20 minutes on this side and 10 minutes each, with the understanding 
that there be no further debate at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. President, we began this debate with the consideration of Senate 
bill 1271. The Senators from Nevada, of course, objected, saying the 
bill would gut environmental laws, saying it would allow unsafe 
transportation and endanger the health and safety of Americans.
  We had objections from the administration. They opposed choosing 
Nevada as the interim site prior to a determination that Yucca Mountain 
would be viable as a permanent repository. To address these concerns 
and others, we have attempted to adjust our bill. We began with Senate 
bill 1271, then a new bill, Senate bill 1936, and again with an 
amendment in the form of a committee substitute to Senate bill 1936. 
With each new version of the bill, we attempted to strengthen the 
public health and environmental safeguards as well as meet the criteria 
of Members who were concerned about these items.
  First, in an effort to address the administration's concerns, we made 
it clear that no construction of an interim facility would take place 
at the Nevada test site until Yucca Mountain was determined to be 
technically viable as a permanent repository. So let me make that 
clear. No construction would be initiated without the viability being 
determined.
  We have extended the time period in order to accommodate the reality 
that nothing moves very fast when you are addressing nuclear waste.
  With respect to concerns over radiation protection standards, we 
began with a 100-millirem standard which could not be reviewed by any 
Federal agency. The bill before us today allows the EPA to issue a 
stricter standard if it determines one is necessary. So we have 
tightened up on the radiation standards.
  With respect to the NEPA requirements, our latest version requires 
the Department of Energy and the NRC to fulfill the requirements of 
NEPA in conjunction with the operation of both an interim storage 
facility and a repository. Our first bill did not contain that 
requirement. So, again, we tightened it up with regard to NEPA 
requirements.
  With respect to concern about transportation safety, we have accepted 
transportation language offered by Senator Moseley-Braun of Illinois, 
Senator Wyden, and others.
  With respect to the preemption of other laws, we proposed language 
consistent with the preemption authority found in the existing 
Hazardous Material Transportation Act. Indeed, I think we have made 
substantial changes in the bill. What is before us today is far 
different than what we originally introduced as Senate bill 1271 in the 
104th Congress.
  Despite all of the changes we have made, the opponents of this bill 
continue to object to the bill as if no changes were made. We have 
heard it referred to as ``Mobile Chernobyl,'' ``emasculating NEPA 
laws'' and ``running roughshod over all environmental laws.''
  The emotional rhetoric that has been used fails to recognize the 
changes we have made in this bill and the charges that we have refuted.
  The suggestion has been made that the transportation is unsafe. We 
have shown how we have safely been moving fuel around for many years. I 
have some charts behind me to show that. Not only have we moved fuel, 
but fuel has been moved overseas.
  Here is a chart showing specifically fuel what is coming to the 
United States from other countries: Australia; it is coming from 
Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and Canada. How does it get here? It moves. It 
is transported. And it is transported safely. The French, the Japanese, 
and the Swedes are moving spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel is 
coming from Japan, going to France for reprocessing, being taken back 
to Japan, and being put back in the reactors. They have what they call 
reprocessing. They don't bury their waste. They put it back in the 
reactors and burn it. It combats proliferation. I am not here to argue 
the merits of that. I am simply showing that this waste does move, and 
it moves in transportation casks.
  We have heard it argued that transportation casks are unsafe. But we 
have shown that the transportation casks can withstand significant 
exposure to crashes, and can survive fires. We have shown the casks 
have been tested by a locomotive hitting them at the 90 miles an hour, 
or crash into a brick wall at 80 miles per hour, submerged in water, 
and bathed in fire. These casks are safe, and they are designed to 
survive any type of real world accident. We have the technology to do 
that.
  I also want to show a chart relative to the movement of waste 
throughout the United States, which I think is significant inasmuch as 
it reflects on the reality that we move a tremendous amount of waste 
throughout the United States.
  But here we are. In the years 1979 to 1995, there were 2,400 
shipments across the United States through every State except Florida 
and South Dakota. I don't know how we missed those. But there are the 
transportation routes. So we have moved them safely. We have shown that 
our national labs have certified that the casks can survive any real 
world crash.
  We have heard statements that radiation protection standards are 
unsafe. We have shown how our standard is more protective than the 
current EPA guidance that allows five times as much. We allow EPA to 
tighten the standards further, if need be.
  It has been said on the other side that the Nuclear Waste Technical 
Review Board says there is no compelling technical or safety reasons to 
move fuel through a central location.
  We have shown that a more complete reading of the Technical Review 
Board's testimony--and their report--indicates there is a need for 
interim storage, and there is a need for Yucca if Yucca is determined 
to be a suitable site for the permanent repository.
  The other side has indicated we can delay this action until August 
1998, at a time when a viability determination is made with respect to 
Yucca.

  We have shown that delay is what has gotten us into this situation in 
the first place.
  There is a court case which has already determined that the Federal 
Government is liable because of its delays and its inability to accept 
the waste.
  Eight months from now, when the Government is in breech of contract,

[[Page S2896]]

then the courts are going to consider the damage that we face.
  We as legislators have a responsibility to protect the taxpayers. 
With each delay, the damage is going to mount. With each delay, the 
liability to the taxpayer will mount. With each delay, there will be a 
pressure to yield to even further delays. The call for delay is really 
a siren's song. It is a trap. It is an excuse for no action.
  Only yesterday I heard our ranking member, Senator Bumpers, 
suggesting that we could wait until August 1998 to deal with this 
problem. Well, it might sound reasonable at first. It has been so long 
now. But let's give it a little more thought.
  Will Congress deal with the nuclear waste issue in an election year 
with time running out in the 105th Congress? I think not. Will my 
friends from Nevada forego their rights to filibuster the bill at that 
time? I think not. As a practical matter, delay until August 1998 will 
slip to 1999. And, if we are waiting until 1999, why not allow the 
decision to wait for the license applications in 2001 or 2002? All the 
while we will be in violation of our contractual commitment. We will be 
increasing the damages. If we delay until 2001 or 2002, then why not 
delay until final licensing of a permanent repository is due in the 
year 2015.

  Let me refer you to the picture of where we propose to put this. This 
waste would be put in a temporary repository located at the Nevada test 
site, which was used for more than 50 years and over 800 nuclear 
weapons tests have taken place in that area.
  That is what we propose. It would be adjacent to the continuing 
development of a permanent site in Yucca Mountain. We have gotten 
nearly 5 miles of tunnel done now. The problem is that site is not 
going to be ready until the year 2015.
  I do not expect the changes we have made in this bill, along with the 
others, will necessarily satisfy all my friends on the other side. All 
the members of the Nevada delegation have appeared before the 
committee, and they have said they would oppose any approach that would 
bring nuclear waste to Nevada, so I do not realistically expect my good 
friends to change their minds. They are doing what they feel they must 
do for their State. But I do hope my other colleagues who have not 
expressed support for our bill will understand just how far we have 
already come to make accommodations and to reject the emotional 
rhetoric that has been heard so often with regard to this bill.
  We are starting this bill with 63 votes. That is what we had last 
year. It is no secret that we are seeking a higher number. So we are 
prepared to adopt amendments today to further address the concerns of 
some Members who have indicated concerns to the White House as well and 
to generally try to tackle all reasonable concerns that still may 
persist about the bill. We have developed this substitute amendment. We 
have worked closely with Senator Bingaman, and I commend him and his 
staff for their hard work.
  Let me go over the amendments very briefly, point by point. S. 104 
sets the size of the interim storage facility at 60,000 metric tons. 
Opponents of S. 104 have charged that the large size of this interim 
storage facility diverts resources away from the permanent repository 
at Yucca.
  The Senators from Nevada have also incorrectly stated that it is our 
intent to make the interim repository the de facto permanent 
repository. Clearly, that is not the case.
  Our amendment allows the Secretary to set the size of the facility 
based on the emplacement. Initial capacity would be 33,100 metric tons. 
This adequately addresses charges made by the critics of S. 104 that 
the repository is too large, and it makes it clear that the interim 
facility can never be a substitute for a permanent repository.
  As we have said all along, the work at Yucca for the permanent 
repository will go on; it must go on. This provision in our substitute 
makes it clear that it has to go on.
  S. 104, as reported, envisioned the initial operation of a central 
storage facility by December 31 in the year 2002, if Yucca Mountain is 
determined to be viable, and December 31, 2004, if it is determined not 
to be viable. Critics of S. 104 charged that this did not allow 
adequate time for the NEPA and the NRC licensing process to work.
  Our amendment addresses these concerns by shifting those dates to 
June 30, 2003, and June 30, 2005.
  S. 104 sets a 100-millirem dose standard that could be reviewed and 
changed to protect public health and safety. Critics of S. 104 argued 
that this was not good enough and that there should be a risk-based 
standard as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences.
  Our amendment, therefore, mandates full EPA involvement in the 
setting of the risk-based radiation protection standard that is likely 
to result in a standard of 25 to 30 millirem. This is the approach 
endorsed by the Senators from Nevada I believe yesterday.
  S. 104 ensured that the State and local jurisdictions could not 
hamstring Federal intent by allowing the Atomic Energy Act and the 
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act to preempt all inconsistent 
laws. Critics charged that this preemption authority was too broad 
because it allowed Federal laws to be preempted as well.

  Our amendment, therefore, makes it clear that our bill would preempt 
State and local laws only, only where State intransigence prevents 
Federal purposes. We have adopted a more narrow approach that attempts 
to I think bring in a careful balance of State and Federal law.
  We do not preempt Federal law. Therefore, let us be very clear about 
what we have attempted to do with our amendment here today. We have 
worked to address all the key objections of critics of S. 104 and still 
have a bill.
  The statement of administration position and the recent letters sent 
to the majority leader by the Secretary of Energy really are not 
referring to the bill that incorporates the amendments we proposed here 
today, so their objection, if you will, is inappropriate because it 
does not relate to the changes we have made, and we look forward to any 
comments the administration might make with regard to these 
adjustments.
  Let me go over each of the administration's criticisms and how we 
have addressed them. The administration's position initially stated 
that S. 104 would ``effectively replace EPA's authority to set 
acceptable release standards.''
  Mr. President, I am going to need about 3 more minutes here with no 
objection from my colleagues from Nevada. I would ask that they be 
extended 3 more minutes as well.
  Mr. REID. Whatever the Senator needs, we will extend the time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank my friend. Let me begin again.
  The administration's position states that S. 104 would ``effectively 
replace EPA's authority to set acceptable release standards.'' Our 
amendment, as I have stated earlier, places the EPA in a key role 
developing risk-based standards for the repository consistent with the 
recommendations of the National Academy of Sciences.
  The administration position states that S. 104 would create loopholes 
in the application of the National Environmental Policy Act.
  We have answered that. A full EIS is required prior to placement of 
any waste in temporary storage or the repository, and our amendment 
requires the evaluation of transportation which S. 104 excluded.
  The administration also stated that S. 104 would ``weaken existing 
environmental standards by preempting all Federal, State and local laws 
inconsistent with the environmental requirements of this bill and the 
Atomic Energy Act.''
  Our amendment completely changes section 501 of the bill. There will 
be full application of health and safety laws except where the local 
jurisdiction attempts to unreasonably stand in the way of the Federal 
mandate.
  The administration's position further states that S. 104 ``would 
undermine the ongoing work at the permanent disposal site by siphoning 
away resources.''
  That is simply not true. Our amendment establishes a user fee which 
was specifically added to provide sufficient funds for the construction 
and operation of a central storage facility and continued work at Yucca 
Mountain.
  Finally, the administration's position states that ``it would 
undermine

[[Page S2897]]

the credibility of the Nation's nuclear waste disposal program by 
designating a site for an interim storage facility before viability has 
been assessed.''
  As I have said earlier, that is simply not true. Our bill 
specifically conditions the use of the Nevada test site as a site for a 
temporary storage until completion, until completion of a viability 
assessment for the repository at Yucca Mountain. We have attempted to 
mirror the administration's position on this issue, and I think we 
have.
  Mr. President, we have worked very hard to satisfy legitimate 
concerns of the administration and all Senators. We continue to remain 
open to suggestions. Our willingness to consider new approaches will 
not stop with the Senate passage of this bill. There will be 
consideration in the House, and there will be a conference. This is not 
the last word. We will continue our quest for compromise that is not 
only acceptable to a bipartisan majority of Congress but hopefully the 
President as well.
  Finally, Mr. President, I want to again advise my colleagues of my 
thanks to Senator Bingaman for the efforts made to accommodate his 
amendments. I think we were able to accommodate seven of the eight. I 
would like to conclude by simply explaining the one that we could not 
resolve.
  As the Chair is aware, Senator Bingaman opposes our provision, and 
that specific provision is if the Yucca Mountain site fails as a 
permanent disposal site, if it fails in the sense of the licensing 
viability or suitability test, why, then the President must pick an 
alternative temporary site. Our position is that if we should get to 
this point, and it is very unlikely that it could occur, that Yucca 
would fail as a permanent disposal site, it would be the President's 
obligation to pick a temporary site. It would also bind Congress in 
approving the President's site. However, if Congress does not approve, 
or if the President fails to pick a site in 2\1/2\ years, then we go 
back to the Nevada test site more or less as the default position.
  Senator Bingaman's position is a little different. He says if Yucca 
fails and the President picks a site, and, of course, Congress must 
approve, but if the Yucca site is not approved and the President does 
not pick, or Congress does not approve, then the waste would stay where 
it is, at 80 sites in 41 States, and it would stay there, well, until 
we developed a new nuclear waste program for the country. It could stay 
there basically, in his contention, for an extended period of time.
  We found that irreconcilable. We feel that in order to bring this to 
a conclusion, we have to structure the amendments in such a way as to 
determine, indeed, that if Yucca Mountain is not deemed to be an 
adequate site and if the President finds it necessary as a consequence 
of Yucca not being deemed an adequate site, the responsibility is the 
President's, with the approval of Congress, but if all proposed to duck 
responsibility, then clearly it comes back to the Nevada test site in 
default. And the rationale for that is obvious. Without closing the 
loop, we have left a loophole, and we would not see a satisfactory 
determination by the parties who must bear the responsibility. And the 
Congress and the Senate certainly share in that.
  So with that concluding remark, I yield and encourage the Chair to 
grant an equal amount of time to my good friends from Nevada.
  I thank the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, will the Chair advise the Senator from 
Nevada how much time the Senator from Alaska consumed?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator consumed 25 minutes.
  Mr. REID. Will the Chair advise the Senator when he has used 11 
minutes?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes, sir. If you will proceed, I will be happy 
to do that.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I do not mean in any way to denigrate pigs. 
I like pigs. As far as I am concerned, they do not look too bad. But no 
matter how you dress up a pig, formal clothes or dress, it still looks 
like a pig. And this legislation, no matter how you dress it up, still 
appears to be garbage. It is a bill that is not good legislation. No 
matter how you dress it up, it is a bad piece of legislation. Not the 
least reason for that, Mr. President, is the fact that now, this year, 
we are trying to interchange the word ``viability'' with 
``suitability.'' They are two totally different concepts with two 
totally different meanings.
  As defined by the Department of Energy, viability is simply a finding 
that to that point in time, no disqualifying characteristic has been 
found. It simply says to this point we have not yet found anything 
wrong. It does not mean that the site will be suitable. Subsequent to 
viability, there is significant additional technical study to be 
pursued in the context of a repository design. The site could still be 
found unsuitable for an extended period later, while they find out if 
it is suitable. So an assessment of viability does not mean much.
  This distinction between viability and suitability has been 
repeatedly pointed out to the Congress. It is a shame that in this 
debate, this year, we are now trying to satisfy the element of 
suitability by using the word ``viability.'' The distinction was 
emphasized by the immediate past Director of DOE's Office of Civilian 
Radioactive Waste Management, who cannot be considered someone who is 
opposed to the nuclear industry. He simply said the finding of 
suitability is much different and a much higher standard than the 
finding of viability.
  The distinction was emphasized in S. 104 testimony by the Chairman of 
the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. He said repeatedly, as did 
the former Chairman of the Office of Radioactive Waste Management, ``Do 
not confuse viability with suitability. Suitability is the final step 
before license applications can be pursued. No centralized interim 
storage should be approved before that suitability decision has been 
made.'' This is very clear. So, in this debate let us not confuse 
suitability with viability.
  There have been constant statements made on this Senate floor during 
the past few days that nuclear waste transportation is just fine, they 
do it other places. How many times have we heard statements, people 
saying we transport nuclear waste all over? Let me read from a letter 
written to my colleague, Senator Richard Bryan, on March 28, 1997. This 
is not something that took place in ancient history. This is a brandnew 
letter. Let me read it:
       Dear Senator Bryan: As the Senate prepares for a vote on S. 
     104, I thought you might find my recent experience with real-
     world transportation of radioactive waste in Gorleben, 
     Germany of interest.
       In early March, I was part of an international team which 
     monitored the transport of six CASTOR casks of high-level 
     atomic waste from southern Germany to the small northern 
     farming community of Gorleben, a distance of about 300 miles. 
     My experiences are chronicled in the enclosed issue of the 
     Nuclear Monitor. But I want to add just a few points.
       Too often, I feel like many of your Senate colleagues 
     believe nuclear waste transportation is just another routine 
     industrial endeavor and that, if they vote for a bill like S. 
     104, this transport will just be carried out with few 
     problems.
       The reality in Germany is quite different. The CASTOR 
     shipments were met with protest every mile of the way. The 
     shipments were front page news in every German newspaper the 
     entire week I was in the country. Near Gorleben, a farming 
     area and home of the ``interim'' waste storage facility, 
     opposition to the transport and the ``interim'' facility is 
     very nearly unanimous. In some towns nearby, I could not find 
     a single house or farm that did not display anti-CASTOR, 
     anti-nuclear, and anti-government signs. Farmers barricaded 
     roads, and dug holes under them so the 100-ton CASTOR casks 
     could not travel across them. Schoolchildren were forcibly 
     removed from their schools, so police could use them as 
     staging areas. The CASTOR transports had changed a quiet, 
     conservative region of Germany into a bastion of protest and 
     anger, causing a divisiveness in German society only now 
     being recognized by the German Parliament, which has begun 
     hearings on the issues.
       The transport of these six casks required 30,000 police and 
     $100 million. More than 170 people were injured during 
     demonstrations, more than 500 arrested. Even the police have 
     called for an end to the shipments; they no more like 
     arresting demonstrators (who many sympathize with) than they 
     like guarding highly radioactive waste casks. I personally 
     measured the radiation from one of these casks: at 15 feet, 
     it was 50 times higher than background levels--an amount 
     no one should involuntarily be exposed to, and pregnant 
     women and children should never be exposed to. The police, 
     of course, stand much closer than 15 feet, and for hours 
     at a time.

[[Page S2898]]

       Eight casks, of 420, have been shipped to Gorleben. Total 
     cost to the German government has been about $150 million. 
     Each shipment the protests and anger increase, instead of 
     dying down.
       Perhaps obviously, while watching the casks lumber down the 
     highway toward Gorleben, at about 2 miles per hour (it took 
     them about six hours to move the final 14 miles), surrounded 
     by police and protestors, I reflected on what this might mean 
     to our own radioactive waste programs. We're not trying to 
     move six casks, or eight, or even 420. Under S. 104, we could 
     be moving as many as 70,000 casks--not six in one year, but 
     six every day. And we wouldn't be moving them 300 miles, but 
     many hundreds and thousands of miles at a time.
       I frankly don't know if we will experience protests like 
     those in Germany, though I suspect we will. But I do know we 
     will experience the same type of anger expressed by the local 
     farmers and townspeople, the same type of distrust of 
     government and authority, and the same kinds of societal 
     divisions. And I have to ask myself, has anyone in the Senate 
     actually thought about what these waste shipments could mean? 
     I fear not.
       Nor, I am convinced, is the U.S. government as prepared as 
     the German government to handle these shipments. Germany was 
     able to place 30,000 police, brought in from all across the 
     country, along the transport route. Medical people and the 
     Red Cross were well in evidence. The first line of emergency 
     responders--the police--obviously were present for every mile 
     of the transport. And they were clearly well-trained, if 
     sometimes visibly uncomfortable in their roles.
       It will not work to simply load up a huge cask of high-
     level atomic waste from a nuclear utility and send it onto an 
     American highway or railway like a truck or boxcar carrying 
     cars or oranges or even gasoline or some other hazardous 
     material. Radioactive waste shipments are qualitatively 
     different and require much more thought, planning and 
     contemplation than the U.S. Senate so far appears willing to 
     provide.
       In the end, it required establishment of a literal police 
     state in the Wendland area of Germany, and very nearly a war 
     zone, to complete this cask movement. I do not believe this 
     would be a credible or accepted policy in the United States.
       With only eight of 420 casks shipped, Germany's Parliament 
     is re-evaluating the entire program. Perhaps we can learn 
     from them, and begin our re-evaluation before the shipments 
     start.
       I would be happy to further brief you or your colleagues on 
     my experiences at your convenience.

  It is signed by Michael Mariotte.
  So, Mr. President, saying you can ship these casks with no problem is 
just not common sense, in light of what has happened in other places of 
the world. In the country of Germany, a very sophisticated country, 
Parliament has had to stop the shipment program.
  This substitute is no different from the bill as originally 
submitted. S. 104 and its nuclear industry advocates insist that waste 
will be stored in Nevada no matter what. And they do not at all 
consider the transportation problems, as I indicated we should. The 
substitute amendment says that if Yucca Mountain is determined 
unacceptable by the President, then a different interim storage site 
must be designated within 24 months. If a different interim site is not 
so designated within that period, then Nevada would become the default 
storage site.
  Sponsors of S. 104 in this Senate and the nuclear industry know that 
no such designation is possible within 24 months. Everyone knows that. 
That is why this substitute is as big a sham as the original bill. As I 
indicated, you can dress up a pig however you want, but it is still a 
pig. This legislation is still garbage, no matter how they try to dress 
it up.
  They know that there has been spent to this point over a decade 
trying to understand the area around Yucca Mountain well enough to 
approve permanent storage there. They want to void the billions of 
dollars spent in Yucca Mountain and sidetrack, short-circuit the 
system. They know that any site that receives nuclear waste will keep 
it forever, because a permanent repository will never be built. That is 
the whole game of the very powerful, greedy, devious, deceptive nuclear 
waste industry. They do not want to play by the rules. They want to 
have their own game where they set their own rules, as they are trying 
to do in S. 104, and they are trying to doctor it up by saying we have 
made the goal lines not 100 yards apart, they are only 80 yards apart. 
That is not true.
  They know once waste is moved from its generator site to a 
centralized site, it will never be moved again. A suitability decision 
will permit designation of a site. Viability will not.
  So the only possible way to proceed, the only way to overcome the 
overwhelming opposition to centralized interim storage, is to designate 
an interim storage site at a place that has already been found suitable 
for permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel. That is the only way to 
do it.
  It is this inability to see that S. 104 is putting the horse behind 
the cart, that is, establishing an interim site before a suitability 
decision--it is this blindness that compels me to believe S. 104 is 
really all about sabotaging this country's avowed policy to permanently 
dispose of nuclear waste.
  The industry, with all their money and all their profits, want to 
change the system. They want to change the rules in the middle of the 
ball game. Everyone knows that Nevada is not happy with Yucca Mountain. 
But at least some rules have been established there, where scientists 
have at least some say in what is going on there. And the reason the 
nuclear waste industry is willing to change--wants to change the rules 
in the middle of the game is they know that Yucca Mountain is being, at 
this stage, studied, analyzed, and characterized in a fair fashion.
  Think about it. S. 104 would move nuclear waste to Nevada and store 
it there permanently at a site that has been found unsuitable for that 
purpose. I repeat. Think about it. S. 104 would move nuclear waste to 
Nevada and store it there permanently at a site that has been found 
unsuitable for that purpose. What could be more outrageous than that?
  Such a policy goes beyond stupidity, goes beyond unfairness. It would 
knowingly risk public health and safety by storing waste at a site that 
has been determined to be an unsafe site, and, by storing waste on an 
open, concrete pad, exposed----
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Smith of Oregon). The Senator has used 11 
minutes.

  Mr. REID. I thank the Chair.
  By storing waste on an open, concrete pad, exposed to the weather and 
all manner of natural and accidental damage. That is wrong. Permanent 
storage, because that is what it would be, at a temporary site would be 
about the worst decision this Senate could make.
  This legislation, this so-called substitute, is as bad as the 
original bill. I defy anyone to controvert what we have talked about 
here today, about the problems they had in Germany. Eight casks out of 
420, moved 300 miles, not thousands of miles like we are moving them 
here. They had to call out 30,000 police and army personnel to allow 
those to proceed, at a cost of $150 million.
  I reserve the remainder of my time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada is recognized.
  Mr. BRYAN. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I yield myself such time 
as I may need.
  Mr. President, I want to continue this discussion of my colleague. 
Each of us was thinking in the same frame of reference. He said no 
matter how much you dress up a pig it's still a pig. I learned as a 
youngster the old adage, you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's 
ear. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. And that is 
exactly what we have here.
  We have not had a chance to review in detail all the asserted changes 
that the chairman of the committee intends, and we will have a chance 
to comment on that tomorrow. But central to this debate, the basic 
issue, the point at which all discussion begins, every thoughtful and 
analytical and policy frame of reference, is the question of whether or 
not we should place interim storage anywhere before a determination is 
made with respect to a permanent repository or dump. That is why the 
administration continues to oppose this legislation, Senator Bingaman 
opposes this legislation, why every environmental organization in 
America opposes this legislation. Because the basic flaw is this is 
unnecessary and unwise. We will have a chance to expand upon this 
tomorrow.
  But you go back to the origin of this debate, 17 years ago, you 
scratch the surface and always the nuclear utility industry and its 
highly paid advocates have one mission and one mission only--remove the 
waste from the reactor site. That was the essence of the debate, as we 
have pointed out time and time again on the floor dating

[[Page S2899]]

back to 1980 when then the Holy Grail of the industry was an ``away-
from-reactor'' storage program; the same basic concept, anywhere away 
from here, get it out, away from reactor storage. The Congress wisely 
rejected in 1980 that approach, just as they have rejected that 
approach consistently, year after year.
  I want to refer to the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. We have 
talked about that a great deal. Much has been made of its contents. But 
the point that needs to be made is there is no urgent technical need 
for interim storage of spent fuel--none. Our colleague, the ranking 
member of the committee, last night, the senior Senator from Arkansas 
[Mr. Bumpers], went on at great length about: There is no necessity, no 
need to do so. Indeed, any thoughtful policy approach rejects that 
premise.
  Again, in 1997, a reconstituted Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board 
reaches the same conclusion, namely that there is no necessity and no 
reason to move at this time.
  They make a second point here that I think is important to emphasize, 
and that is, if the site selection process is to retain any integrity 
at all, here is what Dr. Cohon said in his testimony of February 5:

       However, to maintain the credibility of the site-
     suitability decision, siting a centralized storage near Yucca 
     Mountain--

  That is interim storage he has reference to--

       should be deferred until a technically defensible site-
     suitability determination can be made at Yucca Mountain.

  That is the essence of the argument, that no decision should be made 
until a defensible site-suitability determination can be made at Yucca 
Mountain.
  He goes on to say:

       We have estimated that such a determination could be made 
     within about 4 years.

  Those are Dr. Jared Cohon's comments.
  So, Mr. President, it is clear that the nuclear utility industry is 
scrambling at the last moment to put together a few flourishes on the 
legislation that is before us, but they will not and cannot change the 
basic flaw in that they would propose to site interim storage at the 
Nevada test site before a determination is made with respect to the 
permanent repository.
  Let me say, for those who have followed this issue over the years, 
the only justification for siting it at the Nevada test site--and this 
was debated last year on the floor, to some extent--was the assumption, 
the predicate that Yucca Mountain would be the permanent repository. 
That was the only basis. How in the world can you place interim storage 
until you have a determination made as to whether the permanent 
facility, which is the whole predicate of the interim storage licensing 
decision, has been determined, and that has not occurred.
  So this has nothing to do with science. Frequently, science is 
invoked to defend the course of action that our colleagues on the other 
side of this issue would urge upon the body. This has absolutely 
nothing to do with science; it has everything to do with nuclear 
politics as advocated by the nuclear power industry and their legions 
of lobbyists who line the hallways and the corridors of this Chamber, 
as well as the other body.
  A second point I think needs to be made here and was addressed, in 
part, by my senior colleague, and that is the transportation issue. If 
we should not be moving it at all until a decision is made, why place 
at risk the citizens of 43 States, 51 million people, along highway and 
rail corridors in America? Senator Reid is quite correct that Europe is 
often cited: ``My gosh, they have their situation handled; why can't we 
do it here?'' Believe me, once you start moving 85,000 metric tons of 
high-level nuclear waste, you are going to have communities, and 
rightly so, exercised about the transport of those kinds of volumes.
  The chairman of the committee says, ``Well, we're shipping nuclear 
waste around now.'' That is true to some extent, but the difference 
between 2,500 shipments and 17,000 shipments in which the 2,500 
shipments have traveled 900 miles or less is a vastly different 
proposition in terms of magnitude of risk of shipping waste over 
thousands of miles. Remember, most of these reactors are in the East 
and would be transported virtually from coast to coast, a very 
different proposition again.
  Something else that we have tried to make understandable in this 
debate to our opponents is the fact that the casks that would be used 
have not yet been designed, nor have they been manufactured. So we are 
talking about a totally different reconfigured cask that will take some 
time.
  I invite my colleagues' attention to the testimony of Dr. Jared 
Cohon, again, earlier this year when he indicated that it is not just a 
siting decision. He says:

       But developing a storage facility--

  And he is referring there, again, to interim storage--

       requires more than a siting decision. It also requires the 
     development of a transportation system, and it is likely that 
     such transportation system will take several years to 
     develop.

  So the notion that somehow instantaneously this problem is taken care 
of, just pass S. 104 and all of our problems go away.
  I want to respond to one other issue briefly before concluding. The 
notion is somehow fostered here that if an interim storage facility is 
located at the Nevada test site, that rather than having 109 different 
reactor sites around the country where nuclear waste is stored, we will 
have only one. Mr. President, that is not correct. We will have 110, 
not 109.
  Many people may not be familiar with the fact that immediately after 
a spent fuel cell assembly is removed from the reactor because it no 
longer has the efficiency necessary to generate electrical power, it is 
stored for many, many years in a spent-fuel pond or pool for it to cool 
off for a period of time. We are talking about reactors that are 
licensed up to the period of 2033. So we are going to have nuclear 
waste stored at many sites around the country for many, many years, 
irrespective of S. 104.
  So the notion that is held out of ``pass this bill and we will have 
no nuclear waste other than at the site designated in this bill, the 
Nevada test site,'' is certainly a false premise and, indeed, once the 
waste is removed, the reactor itself remains and is hazardous for an 
extended period of time.
  There are many things we will be talking about in more detail during 
the course of the debate over the next few days. But no matter how they 
try to recast this as a different piece of legislation, some chameleon-
hued piece of nuclear legislation, when you get to the very essence, 
the core of the legislation, its fatal and unperfectable flaw is that 
it calls for siting interim storage before the decision is made on the 
permanent facility, and no one in the scientific community is arguing 
for that proposition.
  So this is nuclear politics, and we are simply responding to the 
bidding of the nuclear utility industry, which, for more than a decade 
now, has urged the Congress, in one form or another, to remove the 
reactor waste, send it somewhere else, send it anywhere, but get it out 
from under us, and that is the objection that the policymakers, who 
have given this their thoughtful attention--the President of the United 
States and others--have said that is what is wrong with this 
legislation. It is what was wrong with the legislation in 1996, and 
that has not changed in the original form in which this bill was 
introduced, and based upon the discussion of the chairman of the 
committee, it has not changed in the substitute that is being proposed.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk to the 
pending committee substitute.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby

[[Page S2900]]

     move to bring to a close debate on the substitute amendment 
     to S. 104, the Nuclear Policy Act:

         Trent Lott, Frank Murkowski, Lauch Faircloth, Phil Gramm, 
           Craig Thomas, Gordon Smith, Ted Stevens, Pete Domenici, 
           Slade Gorton, Larry Craig, William Roth, Conrad Burns, 
           Spencer Abraham, Bob Smith, Susan Collins, and Don 
           Nickles.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, for the information of all Senators, this 
cloture vote would occur on Friday unless consent can be granted for a 
vote on Thursday. Also, the interested parties are in the process of 
negotiating a consent agreement that would call for the final passage 
of S. 104 by the close of business tomorrow. Needless to say, if that 
is agreed to, the cloture vote would not be necessary. I encourage our 
colleagues to continue to negotiate on this important legislation, and 
I hope that they will be able to reach an agreement shortly.

                          ____________________