Summary of H.R. 6665 — Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Restriction Act of 2025

Purpose and intent

• The bill aims to prohibit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) from issuing certain licenses related to the storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, specifically licenses for consolidated interim storage facilities operated by private entities, and for long-term disposal at non-federally owned sites.
• It seeks to constrain how and where spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste may be stored, emphasizing storage at reactors’ own sites or at federally owned facilities.

Key provisions

• Section 2: Prohibition on NRC licenses

  • (a) Findings: Congress articulates concerns about the legal authority underpinning licensing for consolidated interim storage facilities and acknowledges ongoing court challenges and a circuit split on NRC’s authority.
  • (b) Sense of Congress: States that NRC lacks express statutory authority to issue licenses for certain consolidated interim storage activities.
  • (c) Prohibition: Beginning on enactment, the NRC may not issue licenses authorizing:
  • (1) Interim storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level waste at a facility other than:
    • (A) a facility with an operating civilian nuclear power reactor from which the waste was generated; or
    • (B) a federally owned interim storage facility; or
  • (2) Long-term storage or permanent disposal at a facility other than a federally owned repository under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act.
  • (d) Nullification: Any NRC licenses in effect as of enactment that fall under the prohibited categories would be deemed null and void.
  • (e) Definitions: Aligns terms (civilian nuclear power reactor, disposal, high-level radioactive waste, repository, spent nuclear fuel, storage) with their meanings in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.
  • (f) The term “Commission” is defined as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

• Section 1: Short title

  • The act is titled the “Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Restriction Act of 2025.”

Who would be affected

• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): Prohibited from issuing certain licenses for consolidated interim storage and non-federally owned long-term storage/disposal.
• Private or non-federally owned entities seeking licenses for consolidated interim storage facilities or non-federally owned long-term disposal sites.
• Current licensees: Any NRC licenses already issued that fall into the prohibited category would be nullified as of enactment.
• Public health and safety stakeholders: Provisions are framed around ensuring storage of spent fuel/high-level waste occurs at reactor sites or federally owned facilities, or federally owned repositories.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Status: Introduced in the House on December 11, 2025.
• Referral: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• Effective date: The licensing prohibitions take effect upon enactment. Licenses that are in effect at the time of enactment and that meet the prohibited criteria would be voided.

Context and notes

• The bill relies on interpretations of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and cites ongoing legal disputes among appellate courts regarding NRC authority.
• It explicitly asserts that Congress may restrict or prohibit agency action through legislation under its constitutional powers.

This summary focuses on the substantive provisions and their potential impact on regulatory authority, licensing, and storage arrangements for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.