S 3680 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 2 (legislative day, September 17), 2008CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. REID) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Thorium Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the United States and foreign countries will require massive and increasing quantities of energy during the 20-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act to support economic growth;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) nuclear power provides energy without generating unacceptable quantities of greenhouse gasses;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the generation of nuclear power in the United States and many foreign countries has been discouraged by concerns regarding--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the proliferation of weapons-useable material; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the proper disposal of spent nuclear fuel;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) nuclear power plants operating on an advanced thorium fuel cycle to generate nuclear energy--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) could potentially produce fewer weapons-useable materials than uranium-fueled plants; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) would produce less long-term waste as compared to other nuclear power plants;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5)(A) thorium is more abundant than uranium; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the United States possesses significant domestic quantities of thorium to ensure energy independence;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6)(A) thorium fuel cycle technology was originally developed in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) cutting-edge research relating to thorium fuel cycle technology continues to be carried out by entities in the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) it is in the national security and foreign policy interest of the United States that foreign countries seeking to establish or expand generation and use of nuclear power should be provided--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) access to advanced thorium fuel cycle technology; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) incentives to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. THORIUM FUEL CYCLE NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION.

Chapter 19 of title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2015 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 244 the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘SEC. 251. THORIUM FUEL CYCLE NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION.

‘(a) Definitions- In this section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) CHAIRMAN- The term ‘Chairman’ means the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) OFFICE- The term ‘Office’ means an office established under subsection (b)(1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Energy.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Offices for Regulation of Thorium Fuel Cycle Nuclear Power Generation-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT- The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman, shall establish, and provide funds to, an office for the regulation of thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation in each of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology of the Department of Energy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) REGULATIONS- Not later than December 31, 2012, the Chairman, in cooperation with the heads of the Offices, shall promulgate regulations for facilities and materials used in thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS- The heads of the Offices, in cooperation with the head of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, shall carry out demonstration projects for thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND INCENTIVES- The heads of the Offices shall provide recommendations to the Secretary with respect to methods of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) strengthening international partnerships to advance nuclear nonproliferation through the design and deployment of thorium fuel cycle nuclear power generation; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) providing incentives to nuclear reactor operators in the United States and foreign countries to use proliferation-resistant, low-waste thorium fuels in lieu of other fuels.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(c) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Thorium Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing, with respect to the preceding calendar year--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) progress made in implementing this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) activities carried out by the Offices pursuant to this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Authorization of Appropriations- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $250,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink