Bills look to boost domestic uranium enrichment, move past Yucca Mountain

The MORE American Fuel Act: Introduced last Thursday, the Modernizing Outdated Regulations to Expand American Fuel Act—or the MORE American Fuel Act—is a more advanced version of a bipartisan draft piece of legislation first discussed in the spring. Like those early discussions, lawmakers argue MORE American Fuel would update outdated Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations regarding uranium enrichment facilities that are stalling domestic uranium enrichment at a time when efforts are well underway to deploy more nuclear reactors. The U.S. ban on Russian low-enriched uranium taking full effect in 2028 has lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pondering greater production domestically and shifting away from imported enriched uranium.

“Nuclear power is one of the most reliable sources of electricity, and we shouldn’t depend on foreign countries for the fuel that keeps our reactors running,” said the bill’s cosponsor, Sen. Mark Kelly (D., Ariz.), in a news release. “By modernizing outdated regulations, we can strengthen our energy security, create good-paying jobs, and maintain the strong safety and environmental protections Americans expect.”

“Building a foundation for domestic uranium enrichment is crucial for Wyoming’s job and energy security,” added Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R., Wyo.), the bill’s other cosponsor. “As the Russian uranium ban looms, there is no better time for the United States to build its own enrichment capacity than right now.”

The bill would allow applicants to begin construction on uranium enrichment facilities before the NRC issues any operating license. Prelicense construction, however, would require applicants to give advance written notice to state, local, and tribal governments. The bill would still allow the public to request public hearings on applications while eliminating mandatory hearings the sponsors argue are unnecessary. Environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act would still be required before any uranium is enriched or stored on-site. The bill would also preserve the NRC’s authority when reviewing uranium enrichment facilities.

“By creating pathways for accelerated construction and eliminating requirements for outdated and cumbersome regulatory processes, this bill supports new enrichment capacity that is vital to deploying new nuclear reactors,” Patrick White, advanced nuclear technology and regulation expert at the Clean Air Task Force, said in the news release.

The Jobs, Not Waste Act: Elsewhere in the chamber, Sen. Jacky Rosen (D., Nev.) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D., Nev.) introduced last Tuesday the Jobs, Not Waste Act, which would terminate Yucca Mountain’s status as the country’s nuclear waste repository. The Yucca Mountain site was never truly able to be finalized, given the strong opposition from Nevada lawmakers, the public, and others.

The bill would require the Department of Energy to withdraw and terminate the licensing proceeding for the repository at the NRC as well as reclaim and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts to Yucca Mountain. It also would require the Office of Management and Budget to conduct and submit a study on the site’s viability for other uses.

“Nevadans have always been clear that we will not allow nuclear waste to be stored at Yucca Mountain—and that any proposal to establish a nuclear waste repository needs to be centered on the consent of the surrounding community,” Rosen said in a news release.

“While I welcome the Trump administration’s recent move to leave the unworkable Yucca Mountain proposal behind, we cannot take anything for granted. It’s time to pass our Jobs, Not Waste Act to explore other uses for the Yucca site and allow states who want to store nuclear waste to do so,” added Cortez Masto.

This isn't the first time the two Nevadan senators have brought up the Jobs, not Waste Act; similar legislation was introduced in 2024.