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MemoMemorandumObama · D

Presidential Memorandum

Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future

President Obama directed the Secretary of Energy to establish a Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future to comprehensively review policies for managing used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste, including storage, processing, and disposal alternatives. The Commission was required to submit an interim report within 18 months and a final report within 24 months, with DOE providing funding and administrative support.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 5485

Impact dates

  1. Final report to Secretary of Energy

  2. Interim report to Secretary of Energy

Key directives

  • Establish Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future
  • Appoint members with range of disciplines and perspectives
  • Conduct comprehensive review of back end of nuclear fuel cycle policies
  • Evaluate advanced fuel cycle technologies for energy recovery and waste minimization
  • Analyze scientific, environmental, budgetary, economic, financial, and management issues
  • Identify potential statutory changes where appropriate
  • Provide interim report within 18 months
  • Provide final report within 24 months
  • Make interim report available for public comment
  • DOE to provide funding and administrative support
  • All executive departments and agencies to provide information and assistance as requested

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Establishment of Blue Ribbon Commission directed
  • Secretary of Energy authorized to appoint members

Near term (90d)

  • Commission formation and member appointment
  • Development of review methodology

Long term

  • Interim report due within 18 months (July 29, 2011)
  • Final report due within 24 months (January 29, 2012)
  • Potential statutory changes identified
  • Implementation of Commission recommendations dependent on subsequent action

Risks & tensions

  • Commission recommendations non-binding; implementation depends on subsequent Congressional and executive action
  • Subject to availability of appropriations creates funding uncertainty
  • Explicit disclaimer that memorandum creates no enforceable rights limits accountability
  • Yucca Mountain program already underway; this commission effectively bypassed/concurrent with that statutory process, creating potential inter-branch tension
  • Open and transparent mandate may conflict with classified and proprietary information protections explicitly reserved
Presidential Memorandum: Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future · Executive Orders