Panel bars State Energy Research Center from high-level radioactive‑waste projects without extra approvals

The House Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday amended and voted to pass House Bill 21‑59, adding language that prevents the State Energy Research Center from conducting research or pursuing projects that would result in “exploration, storage, treatment, or disposal of high level radioactive waste in North Dakota” without approval by the North Dakota Industrial Commission or legislative management and in consultation with the high level radioactive waste advisory council.

The amendment’s sponsor, Representative Anderson, read the added clause aloud to the committee: “the state energy research center may not conduct research or pursue projects that will result in exploration, storage, treatment, or disposal of high level radioactive waste in North Dakota … without approval by the North Dakota Industrial Commission or legislative management and in consultation with a high level radioactive waste advisory council.”

The measure removes overstruck language on page two and appends the approval-and-consultation requirement. Representative Novak said he supported adding consultation with the advisory council, calling it “an important component.”

Representative Johnson raised a question about whether the amendment would still allow research into underground storage. A committee member responded that, to date, federal approvals for underground high‑level radioactive waste storage do not exist in the United States and that most current storage systems are above ground. Representative Anderson and others discussed small modular reactor technologies; Anderson said some proposed small modular reactors can use spent fuel rods that larger reactors no longer use, though another committee member noted the most energy recoverable from those rods at base load is roughly 10 percent.

The committee voted to adopt the amendment and then voted to give the bill a “do pass” recommendation as amended. On the roll call, 11 members recorded “yes”; there were no recorded “no” votes and two members were recorded absent. Representative Anderson carried the amended bill forward.

The amendment also references the high level radioactive waste advisory council; a committee member identified that council as inside the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The amendment preserves a blanket prohibition on certain research while creating a process for case‑by‑case exceptions if the specified state bodies approve.

Committee discussion was largely technical and focused on the scope of permissible research under the amendment and on where federal approvals would be required before any underground storage could proceed. The committee adjourned after several other agenda items and additional bills were considered.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 21‑59 — do pass as amended (11 yes, 0 no, 2 absent).