Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
- Committees
- Environment and Public Works Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Aug 4, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to definitively end the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project and pivot towards exploring new economic and beneficial uses for the site in Nevada.
What it actually does
This bill permanently terminates the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository licensing proceeding, repealing the legal provisions that authorized it. It withdraws the Department of Energy's application for a construction authorization and prohibits any future consideration of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste site. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of Energy to reclaim the site and mitigate environmental impacts, and requires the Office of Management and Budget to study alternative economic and job-creating uses for the site, such as defense activities, renewable energy development, and scientific research.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue this bill provides long-overdue finality to the Yucca Mountain project, which has been a source of contention and uncertainty for Nevada for decades. They contend it redirects focus towards economically viable and job-creating alternatives for the site, aligning with the state's interests and promoting beneficial uses of federal land rather than continuing with a project widely opposed by the state's residents and leadership. It represents a commitment to listen to local concerns and invest in a productive future.
Opponents contend
Opponents might argue that terminating the Yucca Mountain project without a viable alternative leaves the nation without a permanent solution for high-level nuclear waste, prolonging the risks associated with interim storage at reactor sites across the country. They may point to the significant taxpayer investment already made in the Yucca Mountain site characterization and licensing process, which would be rendered moot, and suggest that the bill prioritizes political expediency over a critical national energy and safety challenge.
The bill is short and straightforward, allowing for a quick and comprehensive understanding of its provisions.
Section 3(a)
Repeal of Nuclear Waste Policy Act Provision and Public Law 107-200
This provision repeals Section 160 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and Public Law 107-200. These laws were foundational to the designation and development of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository. Their repeal effectively removes the statutory authority for the Yucca Mountain project.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that these repeals are essential to definitively end the Yucca Mountain project, which has been a source of significant controversy and opposition, particularly from the State of Nevada. They believe it's a necessary step to move forward.
Critics contend
Critics contend that repealing these foundational laws undermines decades of federal policy and investment aimed at establishing a permanent nuclear waste solution. They argue it creates a vacuum in national nuclear waste management strategy.
Tradeoffs
The provision resolves the legal ambiguity surrounding Yucca Mountain but leaves the broader national challenge of permanent nuclear waste disposal unaddressed, potentially requiring new legislative solutions.
Section 3(b)
Immediate Termination of Licensing Proceeding
Effective immediately upon the bill's enactment, this provision withdraws the Department of Energy's application for a construction authorization for a repository at Yucca Mountain. It also terminates the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's ongoing licensing proceeding for the proposed repository. This ensures an immediate halt to all official activities related to the repository's approval.
Section 3(c)
Prohibition on Future Consideration of Yucca Mountain
This section explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Energy from ever considering or reconsidering the Yucca Mountain site for the location of a nuclear waste repository, starting from the date of the bill's enactment. This provision aims to provide a permanent statutory bar against reviving the project at this specific site.
Section 3(d)
Site Reclamation and Environmental Mitigation
This provision requires the Secretary of Energy to take all reasonable and necessary steps to reclaim the Yucca Mountain site as soon as practicable after the bill's enactment. It also mandates mitigation of any significant adverse environmental impacts caused by site characterization and other activities associated with the repository application. This ensures environmental restoration of the site.
Section 4
OMB Study on Economic Benefit of Alternative Uses of Yucca Mountain Site
This section directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct and submit a study to Congress within 180 days of enactment. The study must assess the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses for the Yucca Mountain site, specifically referencing a 2011 GAO report. Potential alternative uses include defense activities (like unmanned aircraft systems command facilities), renewable energy development, and scientific research.