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S. 763: Reduce Russian Uranium Imports Act

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The text of the bill below is as of Mar 9, 2023 (Introduced).

II

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 763

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 9, 2023

(for himself, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Risch, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Coons, and Mr. Marshall) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To prohibit the importation into the United States of unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reduce Russian Uranium Imports Act.

2.

Amendments to the USEC Privatization Act

(a)

Prohibition on imports

Section 3112A of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h–10a) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d)

Prohibition on imports of low-Enriched uranium

(1)

Prohibition

Beginning on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), no unirradiated low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity may be imported into the United States.

(2)

Waiver

(A)

In general

Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce, may waive the application of paragraph (1) to authorize the importation of low-enriched uranium described in that paragraph if the Secretary of Energy determines that—

(i)

no alternative viable source of low-enriched uranium is available to sustain the continued operation of a nuclear reactor or a United States nuclear energy company; or

(ii)

importation of low-enriched uranium that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity is in the national interest.

(B)

Limitation on amounts of imports of low-enriched uranium

(i)

In general

The importation into the United States of low-enriched uranium, including low-enriched uranium obtained under contracts for separative work units, that is produced in the Russian Federation or by a Russian entity, whether or not such low-enriched uranium is derived from highly enriched uranium of weapons origin, may not exceed—

(I)

in calendar year 2023, 578,877 kilograms;

(II)

in calendar year 2024, 476,536 kilograms;

(III)

in calendar year 2025, 470,376 kilograms;

(IV)

in calendar year 2026, 464,183 kilograms; and

(V)

in calendar year 2027, 459,083 kilograms.

(ii)

Administration

The Secretary of Commerce shall—

(I)

administer the import limitations described in clause (i) in accordance with the provisions of the Suspension Agreement, including the provisions described in subsection (c)(2)(B)(i);

(II)

be responsible for enforcing the import limitations described in clause (i); and

(III)

enforce the import limitations described in clause (i) in a manner that imposes a minimal burden on the commercial nuclear industry.

(C)

Termination

Any waiver issued under subparagraph (A) shall terminate not later than January 1, 2028.

(D)

Notification to Congress

(i)

In general

Upon issuing a waiver under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Energy shall submit to the committees specified in clause (ii) a notification that a waiver has been issued, which shall include identification of the recipient of the waiver.

(ii)

Committees specified

The committees specified in this clause are—

(I)

the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Finance of the Senate; and

(II)

the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

(3)

Applicability

This subsection does not apply to imports—

(A)

by or under contract to the Department of Energy for national security or nonproliferation purposes; or

(B)

of non-uranium isotopes.

(4)

Termination

The provisions of this subsection shall terminate on December 31, 2040.

(5)

Russian entity defined

In this subsection, the term Russian entity means an entity organized under the laws of or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of the Russian Federation.

.

(b)

Conforming amendments

(1)

In general

Section 3112A(c) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h–10a(c)) is amended—

(A)

in paragraph (2)—

(i)

in subparagraph (A)—

(I)

in clause (viii), by inserting and after the semicolon at the end;

(II)

in clause (ix), by striking the semicolon and inserting a period; and

(III)

by striking clauses (x) through (xxvii); and

(ii)

in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking paragraph (10) and inserting paragraph (9);

(B)

in paragraph (3), by striking United States and all that follows through for processing and inserting United States for processing;

(C)

by striking paragraph (5);

(D)

by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (12) as paragraphs (5) through (11), respectively;

(E)

in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subparagraph (D), by striking In addition to the adjustment under paragraph (5)(A), the and inserting The;

(F)

in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking paragraph (10) and inserting paragraph (9);

(G)

in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking December 31, 2040 and inserting the date described in subsection (d)(1); and

(H)

in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (9), as so redesignated, by striking paragraphs (2)(C) and (8) and inserting paragraphs (2)(C) and (7).

(2)

Effective date

The amendment to section 3112A(c)(2)(A)(x) of the USEC Privatization Act (42 U.S.C. 2297h–10a(c)(2)(A)(x)) made by paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection shall take effect on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.