VT NDCAP Federal Nuclear Waste Policy

VT NDCAP FEDERAL NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY (FNWP) COMMITTEE

VT NDCAP’s Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee was created in December 2020 in order for the Panel to learn more about US national spent fuel storage and disposal issues. The Committee will develop recommendations on US nuclear waste policies for the Full Panel to consider.

Comments or Questions may be sent to the VT NDCAP Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee by emailing PSD.NDCAP@vermont.gov or by contacting State Nuclear Engineer Tony Leshinskie at anthony.leshinskie@vermont.gov or (802) 272-1714.

All emails sent to VT NDCAP or the FNWP Committee become public record.

CURRENT & RECENT COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES:

The FNWP Committee continues to evaluate its next steps regarding current Federal nuclear waste policies, including the review of recent Congressional spent fuel legislation proposals and efforts by the Congressional Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus established in early 2021. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the Committee learned more about long-term spent fuel storage options.

At its February 24, 2025 meeting, the Committee met with policy staff members from Vermont's Congressional Delegation and discussed several nuclear energy policy-related bills that are expected to be introduced during the current (2025) Congressional session. Speaking at this Committee meeting were:
- Ethan Hinch - Energy Policy staff member from Senator Bernie Sanders' Office
- Lukas Kauth - Policy staff member from Senator Peter Welch's Office
- Owen Doherty - Policy / Public Outreach staff member from Congresswoman Becca Balint's Office.

Also presenting at this meeting was Amanda Shafer, Energy Policy staff member from California Congressman Mike Levin’s Office.
Congressman Levin co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus. Congressman Levin's
proposed, bipartisan Nuclear Waste Administration Act was discussed at length. Further information on this bill is available at:

Nuclear Waste Administration Act Press Release

Nuclear Waste Administration Act Fact Sheet

A complete record of this discussion is available from the February 24, 2025 Meeting Recording.

At its December 2, 2024 meeting, the Committee reviewed the summaries of it 2024 activity descriptions contained in the VT NDCAP 2024 Draft Annual Report. Several updates to the Annual Report draft were suggested for incorporation into the report draft prior to the December 9 Full Panel Meeting. Potential topics for Committee meetings in 2025 were briefly discussed. Of particular interest was learning more about the Nuclear Waste Administration Act (H.R. 9786 of the 2023-2024 Congressional Session) recently proposed by California Congressman Mike Levin. Addtionally, the Committee Chair provided a verbal report on her attendance at the National Radwaste Summit held in June 2024. .
- December 2, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording
At its October 21, 2024 meeting, the Committee met with representatives from the Good Energy Collective. who discussed their public opinion-gathering efforts regarding prior Vermont Yankee plant operations, its active decommissioning, and potential spent nuclear fuel storage and disposal options. The Collective is one of twelve US Department of Energy (DOE) funding recipients for activities in developing a Consent-Based Siting Process for potential national Spent Nuclear Fuel Consolidated Storage Facility sites.
- October 21, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording
- October 21 Good Energy Collective Presentation
At its June 17, 2024 meeting, the Committee met with several US Department of Energy officials and discussed the current planning for Federal nuclear fuel storage facilities. The support facilities and potential technologies that could be used for monitoring spent nuclear fuel storage cannister integrity long-term were discussed. Funding for long-term spent fuel storage was briefly discussed.
- June 17, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording
- June 17 US Department of Energy Presentation
At its March 4, 2024 meeting, the Committee met with energy policy staff members from Vermont's Congressional Delegation and discussed several nuclear energy policy-related bills that have been introduced during the current Congressional session. Speaking at this session were:
- Ethan Hinch - Energy Policy staff member from Senator Bernie Sanders' Office
- Juliet Walsh - Energy Policy staff member from Senator Peter Welch's Office
- Thomas Renner - Energy Policy and Public Outreach staff member from Congresswoman Becca Balint's Office.

Also joining the meeting were Rebecca Ellis, State Outreach Director for Senator Peter Welch's Office.
The Delegation Staff Members took questions from the Committee Members and several members of the
public present at the meeting.

March 4, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording

At its December 4, 2023 meeting, the Committee reviewed its 2023 activities and discussed potential next steps in assessing current Federal nuclear waste policies. Language in the VT NDCAP 2023 Draft Annual Report summarizing Committee activities was reviewed and updated, as necessary. This discussion is available from the December 4, 2023 Committee Webcast Recording.

Details on the Committee's next scheduled meeting will be posted below as they become available.

PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Meeting Materials from 2024 FNWP Committee Meetings

December 2, 2024

October 21, 2024

June 17, 2024

June 17, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording

June 17 US Department of Energy Presentation

March 4, 2024

March 4, 2024 MS Teams Webcast Recording

Prior Year Meeting Materials

2023 Committee Meeting Archives

2022 Committee Meeting Archives

2021 Committee Meeting Archives

Federal Nuclear Waste Policy Committee Rev. 2 Report (Summary of its 2021 Activities)

UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Monday, June 2, 2025
12 Noon to 1 PM

Meeting to be conducted via Webcast

The Federal Nuclear Waste Policy (FNWP) Committee of the Vermont Nuclear Decommissioning Citizens Advisory Panel (VT NDCAP) will meet on Monday, June 2, 2025 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM.

Further details on this meeting, including its Agenda and webcast connectivity information will be published here once they are known.

Opportunities for public questions and comments will be included. Written questions and comments for the Committee members or the meeting speakers are encouraged and may be submitted to VT NDCAP’s email address at PSD.NDCAP@vermont.gov. This email address can also be used for questions and replies after the meeting or anytime.

All emails sent to the Committee become public record and may be published on the VT NDCAP website (https://publicservice.vermont.gov/electric/ndcap) or this Committee webpage.

All Committee (as well as all other NDCAP) meetings are open to the public. Questions regarding any of the Committee’s announced meetings may be directed to State Nuclear Engineer Tony Leshinskie at anthony.leshinskie@vermont.gov or (802) 272-1714.