Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act
Nuclear REFUEL Act would amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to change how certain reprocessing devices are treated under U.S. nuclear regulation. Specifically, it seeks to exclude equipment or devices that reprocess spent nuclear fuel in a way that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements from being classified as a “production facility.” In other words, such equipment would not count as a production facility under current law, which currently governs licensing and oversight for production facilities. The bill’s title suggests a goal of expedited licensing for “recycling efficient fuels,” though the text itself focuses on creating a regulatory carve-out rather than detailing new licensing procedures. The bill was introduced in the House on June 12, 2025, by Rep. Latta (with Rep. Peters) and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Key Points
- 1The bill amends Section 11(v) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 by changing the definition of “production facility.”
- 2It adds an explicit carve-out for equipment that reprocesses spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements.
- 3The effect is to exclude such non-plutonium-separating reprocessing equipment from being treated as a “production facility” under the Act, potentially reducing licensing requirements for that equipment.
- 4The short title is the Nuclear REFUEL Act, indicating a goal of recycling-efficient fuels and expedited licensing, though the bill text focuses on the definitional carve-out rather than detailing a new licensing process.
- 5Legislative status: Introduced in the House on June 12, 2025 by Rep. Latta (for himself and Rep. Peters); referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.