Bill > HCR1009

This bill requests the Arkansas congressional delegation to introduce federal legislation addressing several key issues related to nuclear waste management and funding. Specifically, the bill asks for a report from the Office of Management and Budget examining the budgeting treatment of the Nuclear Waste Fund, which currently collects fees from nuclear utility generators for radioactive waste disposal. The bill seeks to verify how these funds are deposited, accounted for, and potentially misused in federal budgeting. Additionally, it requests $10 million from the Nuclear Waste Fund to conduct an updated fee assessment that would evaluate three distinct spent nuclear fuel disposal plans: continued on-site storage (which currently costs billions in annual liability), refunding the Yucca Mountain Project, and a proposed "Arkansas Plan" for nuclear fuel recycling using fast reactor technology. The resolution also serves as an "Expression of Interest" for potential congressional funding for a Department of Energy contract with an Arkansas higher education institution to conduct this comprehensive assessment. Importantly, this expression of interest does not commit Arkansas to any specific action beyond the fee assessment, and aims to explore more efficient and potentially cost-effective approaches to managing nuclear waste.

Health and Social Services

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hcr1009&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R