H.R. 3978 — Nuclear REFUEL (Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing) Act

This section expands the definition of "production facility" in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to include, in addition to separating isotopes of uranium or enriching uranium in the isotope 235, reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in a manner that does not separate plutonium from other transuranic elements (previously, only the uranium isotope separation or enrichment in that clause). (Thus, facilities using advanced, proliferation-resistant reprocessing technologies—such as those blending plutonium with other transuranics—are expressly classified as production facilities subject to licensing under Atomic Energy Act §53.)