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 is considering its next steps in assessing 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 and 2023, the Committee learned more about long-term spent fuel storage options.

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. The Committee's first meeting in 2025 was scheduled for February 3.
- 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 Committee Webcast Recording.
At its September 25, 2023 meeting, the Committee heard presentations on current US Department of Energy (DOE) planning for Spent Nuclear Fuel Transportation. Dr. Sara Hogan, Transportation Program Manager in DOE's Office of Integrated Waste Management, discussed the DOE's De-Inventory Reports. These reports assess the available Origin Site Infrastructure, the likely support activities, and potential transportation routes necessary for removing Spent Nuclear Fuel from a former or currently operating commercial nuclear power plant site. Since there currently is not a specific destination for US Spent Nuclear Fuel disposal, the De-Inventory Reports evaluate activities necessary to transport the fuel to the Geographic Center of the United States (GCUS).
At its June 12 and June 19, 2023 meetings, the Committee discussed potential recycling and reprocessing options for spent nuclear fuel. Both meetings featured a presentation by a recognized expert regarding nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling. The US Department of Energy is reconsidering reprocessing (recycling) nuclear fuel, a practice essentially prohibited in the US for several decades, to limit reliance on foreign uranium sources. Some existing light water reactors can use reprocessed fuel while several new reactor designs, if implemented, may require it. At the June 12th meeting, Dr. Sven Bader, Technical Consultant at Orano Federal Services, discuss several spent fuel recycling options. At the June 19th meeting, Dr. Edwin Lyman, Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, discussed several concerns regarding spent fuel reprocessing.
- 2023-06-12 Committee Webcast Recording
- 2023-06-19 Committee Webcast Recording
At its March 6, 2023 Meeting, the Committee discussed Two Perspectives on Amending the 1982 & 1986 Nuclear Waste Policy Acts. These perspectives were provided by Jay E. Silberg, a Partner at Pillsbury, Winthrop, Shaw, Pittman, LLP and Diane Curran, a Partner at Harmon, Curran, Spielberg and Eisenberg, LLP. This discussion is available from the 2023-03-26 Committee Webcast Recording.
At its December 5, 2022 Committee Meeting, the Committee reviewed its 2022 activities and brainstormed potential meeting topics for 2023. These resulted in several updates to the Panel's Annual Report draft. Meeting logistics for 2023 were also discussed.
At the October 3, 2022 Committee Meeting, Congressional Legislative Assistant Oliver Edelson provided an overview of US Congressional Spent Nuclear Fuel Solutions Caucus activities, as well as an informative Questions and Answers session on spent nuclear fuel policies. This discussion is available from the 2022-10-03 Committee Webcast Recording.
At the May 23, 2022 Committee Meeting, representatives from Holtec International outlined the company’s plans for long-term monitoring and aging management of spent fuel storage systems, such as those currently used at Vermont Yankee. A lively Questions and Answers session on spent fuel storage system capabilities occurred. This presentation and discussion is available from the 2022-05-23 Committee Webcast Recording.
At its March 28, 2022 Meeting, the Committee received a presentation from Deep Isolation, a Berkeley, CA-based start-up company, that proposes using existing “side drilling” oil well technology as a means for spent nuclear fuel disposal.

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

PREVIOUS COMMITTEE MEETINGS

March 6, 2023

March 6, 2023 Meeting Agenda
2023-03-06 Committee Webcast Recording
Background Information for March 6 FNWP Committee Meeting
Jay E. Silberg Biography
Diane Curran Biography
Fact Sheet Opposing Consolidated Interim Storage (Supplied by Diane Curran)
2023-03-06 Teams Meeting Chat

June 12, 2023

June 19, 2023

September 25, 2023

December 4, 2023

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, February 3, 2025
12 Noon to 1 PM

Meeting Webcast with (likely) Physical Meeting Space Available

Further details on this meeting will be posted here as they become available.

Remote access for this meeting will be available via a Microsoft Teams webcast and teleconference. Members of the public may join the webcast via the following link:

VT-NDCAP FNWP Committee December 2024 Meeting

Meeting ID: 214 593 774 192

Passcode: RWspDT (this code is case-sensitive)

<Click Here to Join Teams via the Web using the above Meeting ID & Passcode>

<Click Here to Download the Teams App (if needed for your device)>

Note that this is the same weblink that was used for the FNWP Committee’s October & December 2024 meetings. While this weblink will broadcast both the video and audio portions of the webcast, the meeting audio will also be available from the following new teleconference connection:

(802) 552-8456 - OR - (802) 828-7228

Phone Conference ID: 677 936 602#

Additional instructions for joining VT NDCAP webcasts are available from the following links:

https://publicservice.vermont.gov/sites/dps/files/documents/Logging_into_MS_Teams.pdf

https://publicservice.vermont.gov/content/teams-meeting-toolbar-guide

This FNWP Committee meeting is expected to run for 1 hour. While public comments during the meeting are encouraged, speaking opportunities may be limited by this time constraint. Members of the public are encouraged to provide written questions and comments in advance via VT NDCAP’s email address at PSD.NDCAP@vermont.gov.

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.