CLEAN SMART Act of 2026

Bill Number

S. 3828

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-02-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-04-13T13:16:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The CLEAN SMART Act of 2026 aims to speed up the creation, testing, and use of advanced technologies and new approaches to support the Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts in cleaning up environmental contamination from nuclear activities. It focuses on reducing the risks to public health and the environment, cutting long-term cleanup costs, shortening project timelines, and preventing the buildup of new nuclear waste from ongoing and future nuclear operations.

Key Provisions

The bill establishes structures and processes to enhance collaboration and innovation in DOE's environmental management.

• Network of National Laboratories for Environmental Management and Stewardship (Section 3): Creates a steering committee involving DOE's national laboratories to support cleanup and long-term site monitoring. Key duties include:
• Developing new treatment technologies, disposal methods, and strategies to make cleanup safer, faster, and cheaper.
• Testing and evaluating alternatives to current methods.
• Reviewing DOE plans, exchanging best practices with contractors, agencies, academia, and industry.
• Providing technical advice on policies, contracts, and workforce training, especially for underserved communities.
• Leadership includes representatives from core labs (e.g., Idaho, Los Alamos), with the Savannah River National Lab as chair.
• Requires annual reports to Congress on activities and technology progress.
• Authorizes $55 million annually starting in FY 2027 for development activities and $3 million for operations.
• Allows use for other federal cleanup challenges under specific conditions, without diverting resources from DOE missions.
• Exempts the network from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to streamline operations.

• Coordination with DOE Offices and Federal Agencies (Section 4): Improves sharing of science and technology across DOE and government.
• Establishes the Interagency Advisory Group on Technology Excellence in Environmental Cleanup, chaired by DOE's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, to coordinate technology transfers, share best practices, identify useful innovations, and promote partnerships. Includes representatives from DOE offices, other agencies (e.g., EPA, NRC), states, tribes, academia, and industry. Meets at least every 180 days; also exempt from FACA.
• Requires a memorandum of understanding (MOU) within one year between DOE's Office of Environmental Management and Office of Science to align basic research with cleanup needs.
• Mandates workshops to identify research gaps and develop plans, plus reports to Congress on findings and implementation.

• Program Management Protocols (Section 5): Directs the network to help DOE integrate science and technology into cleanup planning.
• Requires a biennial Technology Development and Deployment Framework outlining DOE's tech goals, strategies for innovation, and leveraging external expertise. Emphasizes applied research, basic studies, and workforce development for diverse groups.
• Supports site-specific and program-wide needs while complementing existing DOE plans.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends Section 4713 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2753) to require corrective action plans for defense-related cleanup projects facing cost or schedule issues. These plans must address root causes, followed by an independent DOE review, congressional reporting, and certification that measures are in place to prevent future overruns. This adds accountability and structured problem-solving to DOE's project management protocols.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enhances DOE's efficiency in managing cleanup at nuclear sites, potentially reducing costs and timelines for the Office of Environmental Management (responsible for active remediation) and Office of Legacy Management (for long-term monitoring). Promotes better coordination with agencies like the EPA and NRC, possibly extending expertise to non-DOE sites without new funding.
• Citizens: Lowers environmental and health risks from radioactive waste at contaminated sites, accelerates site decommissioning, and supports safer waste management to prevent future hazards. Includes workforce training for underserved communities, potentially creating jobs in remediation science.
• International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, though improved U.S. nuclear waste technologies could indirectly support global non-proliferation and environmental standards.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• DOE and National Laboratories: Core entities driving implementation, including labs like Savannah River, Idaho, and Los Alamos for research and coordination.
• Federal Agencies: EPA, NRC, Bureau of Land Management, and others involved in environmental oversight or land management.
• Congress: Receives reports and certifications, influencing oversight of DOE budgets and programs.
• States, Tribes, and Local Communities: Affected by cleanup sites; benefit from faster remediation and input via advisory groups.
• Contractors, Academia, and Industry: Collaborate on technology development, transfers, and training; private sector gains opportunities for partnerships.
• Citizens Near Sites: Indirectly impacted through reduced contamination risks and economic opportunities.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Exemptions from FACA for the network and advisory group allow faster decision-making but limit public involvement to advisory input only, potentially raising transparency concerns. The bill ties into existing atomic energy laws, ensuring compliance with safety and waste regulations while authorizing specific appropriations.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority over federal spending and energy policy; promotes equity in workforce access, supporting equal protection principles for marginalized groups.
• Political: Bipartisan introduction (by Sens. Lujan and Scott) signals broad support for DOE innovation. Emphasizes cost savings and risk reduction, which could influence budget debates, but requires ongoing congressional reporting for accountability. Focus on preventing future waste accumulation addresses long-term fiscal and environmental stewardship without mandating new nuclear restrictions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Cosponsors (1)

Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]

Recent Actions

• 2026-02-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
• 2026-02-11: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Combining Laboratory Expertise to Accelerate Novel Solutions for Minimizing Accumulated Radioactive Toxins Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-11 — PDF (24 pages)