Nuclear Waste Terrorist Threat Assessment and Protection Act

H.R. 895, the Nuclear Waste Terrorist Threat Assessment and Protection Act, would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop a comprehensive plan to defend the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository against potential terrorist attacks, including sabotage or the theft of radioactive materials. The bill mandates that the federal government analyze the potential economic, environmental, and public health impacts of such threats and ensure that local and state emergency response teams are fully prepared for a crisis. Under this legislation, the Yucca Mountain project could not receive an operating license until the Secretary of Energy certifies that the site is secure from terrorism and provides Congress with an assessment of potential liability costs resulting from an attack.