S. 5233 – Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 11, 2026 at 5:51 AM UTC

The bill ends the federal effort to build a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain. It cancels the licensing process, bars the Department of Energy from ever using the site for a repository again, and orders the site to be cleaned up. Within six months, the Office of Management and Budget must deliver a public study on how the land could be used for jobs, such as defense facilities, renewable‑energy projects, or scientific research.

Key Provisions

Repeals the part of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act that authorizes the Yucca Mountain repository and cancels related public laws.
Withdraws the Department of Energy’s application for a construction permit and stops the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing proceeding for the site.
Prohibits the Secretary of Energy from ever reconsidering Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository.
Requires the Secretary of Energy to begin cleaning up the site and fixing any environmental damage caused by earlier work.
Mandates that, within 180 days, the OMB Director submit a study to Congress (and the public) on the economic and job‑creation potential of alternative uses of the site, including defense operations, renewable energy development, and scientific research.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

August 4, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

August 4, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

August 4, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued August 4, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5233

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

August 4, 2026

Ms. Rosen (for herself and Ms. Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To terminate the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding and require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to submit to Congress a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Appropriate committees of Congress

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

(A)

the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate;

(B)

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

(C)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

(2)

Commission

The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

(4)

Yucca Mountain site

The term Yucca Mountain site has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).

3.

Termination of the Yucca Mountain licensing proceeding

(a)

Repeals

(1)

Nuclear Waste Policy Act provision

(A)

In general

Section 160 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10172) is repealed.

(B)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (Public Law 97–425; 96 Stat. 2201, 101 Stat. 1330–255) is amended by striking the item relating to section 160.

(2)

Public Law 107–200

Public Law 107–200 (42 U.S.C. 10135 note; 116 Stat. 735) is repealed.

(b)

Termination

Effective on the date of enactment of this Act—

(1)

the application for a construction authorization for a repository at the Yucca Mountain site filed with the Commission by the Secretary is withdrawn; and

(2)

the Commission licensing proceeding for the proposed repository at the Yucca Mountain site is terminated.

(c)

Prohibition on future consideration

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall not consider (or reconsider) the Yucca Mountain site for the location of a repository.

(d)

Reclamation and mitigation

As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall take all reasonable and necessary steps—

(1)

to reclaim the Yucca Mountain site; and

(2)

to mitigate any significant adverse environmental impacts caused by site characterization and other activities associated with the filing of the application for a construction authorization referred to in subsection (b)(1).

4.

Study on the economic benefit of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make available to the public, a study on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses of the Yucca Mountain site as described in the report of the Government Accountability Office numbered GAO–11–847 and dated September 2011, including—

(1)

defense activities, such as a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems;

(2)

the development of renewable energy sources; and

(3)

scientific research.