Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments Act of 1987
Latest action. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 100-230, pt. 3.
Nuclear Waste Policy Act Amendments Act of 1987 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to add a new "Title IV - Incentive Agreements." Authorizes the Secretary of Energy to enter into an incentive agreement with a State or affected Indian tribe concerning a repository or monitored retrievable storage facility for the acceptance of high-level radioactive waste or spent nuclear fuel. Directs the Secretary to seek to enter into negotiations for an incentive agreement with: (1) the Governor of the State containing a site selected for characterization as a candidate site for a first repository; or (2) any affected Indian tribe relating to a monitored retrievable storage facility. Authorizes such States or Indian tribes to seek to enter into an incentive agreement with the Secretary upon a demonstration that such an entity has a site suitable for: (1) characterization for a repository; or (2) the construction of a monitored retrievable storage facility. Details a benefits schedule of payments to a State or Indian tribe signatory to such an incentive agreement to defray potential expenses. Outlines the provisions of such incentive agreements. Directs the Secretary to make payments under the benefits schedule or incentive agreements from the Nuclear Waste Fund. Mandates that a review panel be established under such incentive agreements to: (1) advise the Secretary regarding proposed repositories or monitored retrievable storage facilities and related issues; (2) evaluate performance; (3) recommend corrective actions; and (4) participate in data planning and review. Exempts such Panel from the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Prescribes the membership of such Panel. Directs the Secretary to suspend work at other sites selected for characterization as first repository candidate sites as long as a repository incentive agreements are in effect for a given site. Requires the Secretary to construct and operate a monitored retrievable storage facility as an integral part of the civilian nuclear waste management system. Sets forth conditions under which incentive agreements may be terminated. Declares that this Act provides an alternative procedure for the development of repositories and monitored retrievable storage facilities. Prohibits the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from considering any changes in the schedule for opening a repository or monitored retrievable storage facility resulting from the implementation of this Act in any processing involving a civilian nuclear power reactor.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on March 25, 1987. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on May 7, 1987: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 100-230, pt. 3.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 100th Congress (1987-88), 713 of the 9,582 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 7.4 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JOHN JOHNSTON (D-LA) introduced it on March 25, 1987, and 4 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They are 4 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 25, 1987, 14414 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 14371 days ago, on May 7, 1987.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 100th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1989 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers