Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026

This legislation, known as the "Jobs, Not Waste Act of 2026," aims to definitively terminate the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project. It achieves this by repealing specific provisions of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and Public Law 107-200, which authorized the project, and by mandating the immediate withdrawal of the construction authorization application and termination of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing proceeding. The bill further establishes a permanent prohibition on the Secretary of Energy from ever considering the Yucca Mountain site for a nuclear waste repository. Additionally, it requires the Secretary to take all reasonable steps to reclaim the site and mitigate any adverse environmental impacts from past activities. Finally, the legislation directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to conduct and submit a study within 180 days on the economic viability and job-creating benefits of alternative uses for the Yucca Mountain site. This study will explore options such as: defense activities, including a command facility for unmanned aircraft systems; the development of renewable energy sources; and scientific research. This comprehensive approach aims to repurpose the site for beneficial economic and scientific endeavors.