# Summary of H.R. 9786 — Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2024
This bill establishes a new independent federal agency called the Nuclear Waste Administration to manage the nation's nuclear waste disposal program, replacing the Department of Energy's current role. The Administrator would be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a six-year term.
The legislation requires the Administrator to site, construct, and operate storage facilities for temporary storage of nuclear waste and at least one permanent underground repository for disposal. Critically, the bill requires a "consent-based" approach, meaning the Administrator cannot proceed with any facility unless the state governor, local governments, and affected tribes agree in writing. This prevents construction at Nevada's Yucca Mountain site without such consent, effectively eliminating that decades-long project unless Nevada agrees.
The bill establishes two funding mechanisms: a Working Capital Fund fed by fees paid by nuclear utilities that generate waste, and ensures the Nuclear Waste Fund continues to collect fees to cover full program costs. Defense-related nuclear waste would be funded separately through congressional appropriations. The bill sets aggressive timelines, requiring a storage facility to be operational by December 31, 2034, and a permanent repository by December 31, 2060.
A five-member Nuclear Waste Oversight Board appointed by the President would monitor the program's performance, funding adequacy, and contract compliance, with annual reporting to Congress. The bill creates opportunities for affected communities to receive financial compensation, economic development assistance, and oversight authority as part of their consent agreements.
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