U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) have introduced the CLEAN SMART Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at speeding up nuclear waste cleanup efforts by utilizing advanced technologies and expertise from the nation’s network of national laboratories. The legislation seeks to formally establish and provide funding for the Department of Energy’s Network of National Laboratories for Environmental Management and Stewardship (NNLEMS).
The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Office of Environmental Management, is responsible for cleaning up 15 sites across the United States that contain nuclear waste from projects dating back to the Manhattan Project and the Cold War. The projected cost to decommission these sites is nearing $700 billion, with completion expected near the end of this century.
As DOE moves forward with its Genesis Mission—an initiative to advance scientific research—the CLEAN SMART Act aims to support this effort by integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing into environmental remediation processes at DOE facilities like Savannah River National Laboratory.
Senator Tim Scott stated, “Our country’s national laboratories reflect the best of American innovation, including the world-class work being done at the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina. The CLEAN SMART Act takes a bipartisan approach to harnessing that expertise to accelerate nuclear cleanup while protecting taxpayer dollars. I am proud to work with Senator Luján to deliver practical solutions and ensure these sites are cleaned up efficiently and responsibly.”
Senator Luján added, “Across the country, our National Labs—like Sandia and Los Alamos—are home to our brightest minds who drive innovation and scientific advancement. As we continue to address our nation’s environmental legacy from the Manhattan Project and the Cold War, I’m proud to partner with Senator Scott to introduce the CLEAN SMART Act to leverage the expertise of our National Labs to speed up the cleanup process while saving taxpayers billions. I’ve long fought to improve the lives of those impacted by nuclear waste, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill signed into law.”
Senator Scott represents South Carolina in Congress, focusing on issues such as economic development, education, health care, workforce development, and bridging economic disparities. He participates in several Senate committees including Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Finance; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; as well as Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He also has a background in local government and entrepreneurship. More information about his initiatives can be found on his official website.
The full text of the bill is available online.
