[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4676 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4676
To amend the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act to direct
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to further utilize a risk-informed
and performance-based approach to licensing, to amend the hearing
requirements for certain licenses under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2023
Mr. Donalds introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act to direct
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to further utilize a risk-informed
and performance-based approach to licensing, to amend the hearing
requirements for certain licenses under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Nuclear Red Tape Reduction Act''.
SEC. 2. TECHNOLOGY-INCLUSIVE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR NUCLEAR
LICENSING.
Section 3(14) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization
Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``where appropriate'' and inserting ``to
the maximum extent practicable''; and
(2) by inserting ``(consistent with the document issued by
the Commission on June 22, 1998, and titled `White Paper on
Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Regulation' (SECY-98-144))''
after ``risk-informed and performance-based techniques''.
SEC. 3. HEARINGS AND JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF
1954.
(a) In General.--Section 189a.(1)(A) of the Atomic Energy Act of
1954 (42 U.S.C. 2239(a)(1)(A)) is amended to read as follows:
``(A)(i) In any proceeding under this Act, for the
granting, suspending, revoking, or amending of any
license or construction permit, or application to
transfer control, and in any proceeding for the
issuance or modification of rules and regulations
dealing with the activities of licenses, and in any
proceeding for the payment of compensation, an award or
royalties under sections 153, 157, 186 c., or 188, the
Commission shall, subject to clause (ii), grant a
hearing upon the request of any person whose interest
may be affected by the proceeding, and shall admit any
such person as a party to such proceeding.
``(ii) The Commission may only hold a hearing under
this subparagraph for an application for a license
under section 103 for a construction permit if the
Commission receives a request for a hearing under
clause (i) by a person described in such clause by not
later than 30 days after notice and publication of the
application for the license in the Federal Register.
``(iii) The Commission shall hold a hearing after
30 days notice and publication once in the Federal
Register, on each application under section 104 b. for
a construction permit for a facility, and on any
application under section 104 c. for a construction
permit for a testing facility.
``(iv) In cases where such a construction permit
has been issued following the holding of such a
hearing, the Commission may, in the absence of a
request therefor by any person whose interest may be
affected, issue an operating license or an amendment to
a construction permit or an amendment to an operating
license without a hearing, but upon 30 days notice and
publication once in the Federal Register of its intent
to do so.
``(v) The Commission may dispense with such 30 days
notice and publication with respect to any application
for an amendment to a construction permit or an
amendment to an operating license upon a determination
by the Commission that the amendment involves no
significant hazards consideration.''.
(b) Combined Licenses.--Section 189a.(1)(B)(i) of the Atomic Energy
Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2239(a)(1)(B)(i)) is amended by striking
``within 60 days'' and inserting ``within 45 days''.
SEC. 4. REPORT ON TERMS OF RENEWED NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
LICENCES.
Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall submit to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report that describes--
(1) the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
determine the terms of renewed licenses under the Atomic Energy
Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), including how the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission determines the maximum term for such
renewed licenses and in which circumstances the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission may issue a renewed licence for a term in
excess of 20 years; and
(2) the meaning of ``adequacy of licensee programs'' as
used on page 64964 of the final rule titled ``Nuclear Power
Plant License Renewal'' and published December 13, 1991 (56
Fed. Reg. 64943).
<all>