BOISE, Idaho — The State of Idaho has signed a new agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to temporarily waive parts of the 1995 Settlement Agreement that restricts the transport and storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in the state.
The waiver, signed on April 24 by Governor Brad Little, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, and DOE officials, allows limited shipments of SNF to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) through 2032 for research and testing purposes.
Key Details:
- 2027: Up to 15 metric tons of fuel from the North Anna Nuclear Power Station (Virginia) will be shipped to INL for license renewal research.
- 2026–2029: Smaller shipments from university reactors at Penn State, NC State, Texas A&M, and UC Davis will support safety and nonproliferation studies.
- 2028–2032: Additional research-related shipments will come from Kansas State, the University of Texas, the University of Utah, and Washington State.
The agreement includes safeguards:
- DOE must notify Idaho 240 days before each shipment.
- Idaho can reject any shipment with 180 days’ notice.
- If requirements are not met, DOE must pay Idaho $100,000 per metric ton of SNF remaining in the state.
Officials say the agreement supports national energy research while maintaining the state’s environmental protections. INL will use the materials to support U.S. nuclear energy development, safety testing, and national security research.
The original 1995 agreement was designed to limit Idaho’s role in nuclear waste storage. This waiver continues that approach by ensuring shipments are limited in scope and time, with oversight and enforcement mechanisms in place.
Governor Little said the agreement balances research progress with Idaho’s long-standing protections. Attorney General Labrador emphasized the state’s authority to protect public interests while supporting innovation.
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