Allocating the right amount of money is key to meeting the newest opening date of 2017 — almost two decades later than originally promised — Sproat said.

The delay in opening the project is what prompted nuclear power companies to join forces and form Private Fuel Storage, a private venture that aimed to store nuclear waste on the Skull Valley Goshute Indian Reservation in Tooele County. The waste would be stored there until Yucca opened. The Interior Department canceled the company's lease with the tribe late last year and also did not approve a land conveyance the consortium needed to move waste to the site, essentially stopping the project. PFS said it is considering its legal options over the decisions.

Sproat said accessing the rate-payer money for the project is a "must-have" in the bill.

The longer the department waits to open the site and begin collecting used nuclear fuel from nuclear power companies, the more taxpayer money will have to go to pay court settlements. Because the department did not pick up the waste as promised in 1998 — and still hasn't — nuclear power companies have sued and some have settled with the government.

Sproat said the department estimates it will cost taxpayers about $7 billion in legal liability if Yucca doesn't open until 2017, and half a billion for every year after 2017.

"That number is large and growing so there is a real financial driver incentive to move this program forward," Sproat said.

Yucca has a series of obstacles to overcome, including opposition from Reid and the state of Nevada, before it can open. But current nuclear waste law prohibits the department from evaluating other options to store the waste.

Sproat said Congress would have to allow the department to look at a "plan B," but the department is not recommending one at this time.

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E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com