This bill directs the Secretary of Energy to commission an independent study on recycling spent nuclear fuel through the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The study will analyze the technical and economic feasibility of various recycling technologies and approaches, including how to process spent fuel from existing storage sites for use in advanced and conventional reactors, as well as extracting isotopes for medical and industrial applications. The research will examine different facility configurations, regulatory gaps, and potential policy changes needed to support nuclear fuel recycling development. The Secretary must deliver a public report within 12 months of entering the study agreement, with findings presented in a format accessible to non-specialist readers and limited to 120 pages plus appendices. This legislation affects nuclear energy stakeholders including the Department of Energy, national laboratories, private reactor developers, and communities currently storing spent nuclear fuel, and involves no specific funding authorization but requires contract funds for the study itself.
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