United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group (2020 Transition): Difference between revisions

# '''Provide Immediate Action''' to Support U.S. Mining and Restore the Viability of the Entire Front-End of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle.

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Strategy calls for DOE to lead the creation of a national Uranium Reserve to provide immediate relief to the U.S. mining and conversion industries. DOE also supports innovative nuclear energy technology, including managing research, development, and/or demonstration programs for advanced nuclear reactors, accident tolerant fuels, and high-assay low enriched uranium. DOE will support the development of small modular reactors and microreactors, the Versatile Test Reactor, and the National Reactor Innovation Center. DOE is also the lead for investigating methods that continue to increase efficiencies in the 10 CFR Part 810 nuclear export process, as well as providing statutorily mandated technical support to the Department of State for the negotiation of 123 agreements.  

Other Federal Departments and Agencies have also begun to implement recommendations and activities identified in the Strategy, when consistent with existing appropriations and authorities, which have created visible signals of American commitment to this strategy. The first near-term action by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) was to reverse a legacy policy limitation on financing for nuclear energy projects in emerging markets.^{[https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-modernizes-nuclear-energy-policy 2]}. As America’s development bank, DFC partners with private businesses to support investment in challenging frontier markets. By providing debt and equity financing; insurance; and technical assistance to projects that are unable to obtain sufficient support from private lenders, DFC helps mobilize additional private capital, resulting in projects that are financially viable and built to the highest standards. Together with the DOE’s support of innovative reactor technology, this critical policy change will help restore America’s global leadership in the civil nuclear sector, while increasing access to a safe and sustainable source of clean energy in the developing world.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), “Concerning the Regulation of Uranium in situ Recovery Activities,” that entered into force on July 23, 2020. The MOU describes how the NRC and EPA will work with each other to accomplish their responsibilities under Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) and supports the goal of re-establishing a robust domestic uranium industry. This MOU follows on to (but does not supersede) a 1992 MOU on general cooperation and, although not legally binding, is intended to support more timely, efficient regulation, and foster opportunities for communication and cooperation between the agencies.

DOE also established the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program in FY 2020 with the publication of a competitive solicitation and a strong response from industry. This program will enable demonstration of up to two advanced reactor designs through partnerships with industry.

Consistent with the Strategy, the Department of Commerce recently announced a draft amendment to the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation on Uranium from the Russian Federation (“Russian Suspension Agreement”) to extend the Agreement to 2040 and reduce U.S. reliance on Russian enriched uranium^{[https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2020/09/us-department-commerce-announces-draft-amendment-suspension-agreement 3]}.