Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act

# Nuclear Waste Informed Consent Act Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to get written approval from multiple parties before spending money from the Nuclear Waste Fund on radioactive waste disposal projects. Specifically, the DOE would need signed agreements with the state governor, local governments where a waste repository would be located, nearby communities that nuclear waste would be transported through, and affected Native American tribes. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects states and communities that might host nuclear waste storage facilities, as well as tribal nations in those areas. It also impacts the DOE's ability to move forward with waste disposal projects and, indirectly, utility companies and the nuclear industry that contribute to the Nuclear Waste Fund.

The bill was introduced by Representative Dina Titus (D-Nevada), a state that has been a focus of nuclear waste disposal discussions. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It represents an approach that emphasizes local consent and community input in decisions about nuclear waste storage, rather than allowing federal agencies to proceed without explicit local approval.