Nuclear Fees Reauthorization Act of 2005

This bill updates how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is funded and managed to ensure the continued oversight of commercial nuclear power in the United States. It extends the NRC’s authority to collect annual fees from nuclear power plants and other license holders through 2011, ensuring that the industry, rather than general taxpayers, continues to fund the majority of the agency’s safety and security operations.

For the average citizen, the bill aims to enhance public safety by strengthening the NRC’s workforce through new scholarships, fellowships, and recruitment programs for nuclear safety experts. It also protects public health by establishing new guidelines for the export of highly enriched uranium used to create medical isotopes for treating diseases like cancer, while commissioning a study to find safer, more secure ways to produce these medicines. Additionally, the bill ensures that funds set aside by power companies for the future cleanup and decommissioning of nuclear plants are protected during bankruptcy proceedings, guaranteeing that these environmental costs do not fall on the public.