Bill > HR4236

This bill clarifies the Department of Energy's authority to dispose of certain foreign-origin radioactive materials, specifically americium-241 (Am-241) sealed sources, at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a specialized nuclear waste disposal facility. Currently, while US-origin Am-241 sources can be disposed of at WIPP, Russian-origin sources cannot, despite having similar isotopic properties. The bill aims to enable the National Nuclear Security Administration to safely dispose of these foreign-origin radioactive sources, which are considered potentially dangerous because they could be used in a "dirty bomb" (a radiological weapon). The Carlsbad Field Office estimates that these additional disposals would involve only 1-2 shipments per year and would have minimal impact on WIPP operations. By codifying a disposition pathway for these materials, the bill supports the Department of Energy's nuclear nonproliferation mission by reducing the availability of potentially hazardous radioactive materials and facilitating their secure removal from various domestic and international facilities.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4236/all-info