[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 3, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 5485-5486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2421]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 5485]]


                Memorandum of January 29, 2010

                
Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear 
                Future

                Memorandum for the Secretary of Energy

                Expanding our Nation's capacity to generate clean 
                nuclear energy is crucial to our ability to combat 
                climate change, enhance energy security, and increase 
                economic prosperity. My Administration is undertaking 
                substantial steps to expand the safe, secure, and 
                responsible use of nuclear energy. These efforts are 
                critical to accomplishing many of my Administration's 
                most significant goals.

                An important part of a sound, comprehensive, and long-
                term domestic nuclear energy strategy is a well-
                considered policy for managing used nuclear fuel and 
                other aspects of the back end of the nuclear fuel 
                cycle. Yet the Nation's approach, developed more than 
                20 years ago, to managing materials derived from 
                nuclear activities, including nuclear fuel and nuclear 
                waste, has not proven effective. Fortunately, over the 
                past two decades scientists and engineers in our 
                country and abroad have learned a great deal about 
                effective strategies for managing nuclear material. My 
                Administration is committed to using this advanced 
                knowledge to meet the Government's obligation to 
                dispose of our Nation's used nuclear material.

                Accordingly, I request that you establish a Blue Ribbon 
                Commission on America's Nuclear Future (Commission) and 
                appoint its members. Those members should include 
                recognized representatives and experts from a range of 
                disciplines and with a range of perspectives, and may 
                include participation of appropriate Federal officials. 
                The Commission's business should be conducted in an 
                open and transparent manner.

                The Commission should conduct a comprehensive review of 
                policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel 
                cycle, including all alternatives for the storage, 
                processing, and disposal of civilian and defense used 
                nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. This review should 
                include an evaluation of advanced fuel cycle 
                technologies that would optimize energy recovery, 
                resource utilization, and the minimization of materials 
                derived from nuclear activities in a manner consistent 
                with U.S. nonproliferation goals.

                In performing its functions, the Commission should 
                consider a broad range of technological and policy 
                alternatives, and should analyze the scientific, 
                environmental, budgetary, economic, financial, and 
                management issues, among others, surrounding each 
                alternative it considers. Where appropriate, the 
                Commission may also identify potential statutory 
                changes.

                The Commission should provide an interim report to you 
                within 18 months of the date of this memorandum, and 
                that report should be made available for public 
                comment. The Commission should provide a final report 
                to you within 24 months of the date of this memorandum. 
                The Department of Energy shall provide funding and 
                administrative support for the Commission, as you 
                determine appropriate, so that it can complete its 
                functions within these time periods. Additionally, all 
                executive departments and agencies shall provide such 
                information and assistance to the Commission as you or 
                the Commission may request for purposes of carrying out 
                the Commission's functions, to the extent permitted by 
                law. Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to 
                require the disclosure of classified, proprietary, law 
                enforcement sensitive, or other information protected 
                under governing law. This memorandum shall be 
                implemented consistent with applicable law

[[Page 5486]]

                and subject to the availability of appropriations. This 
                memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any 
                right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.

                You are hereby authorized and directed to publish this 
                memorandum in the Federal Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    WASHINGTON, January 29, 2010

[FR Doc. 2010-2421
Filed 2-2-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 6450-01-P