[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4678 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4678
To direct the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish
procedures for the deployment of microreactors at airports, 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 Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish
procedures for the deployment of microreactors at airports, 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 ``Provide Logistical Aid to airports
via advanced Nuclear Energy Act'' or the ``PLANE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Airports generally have diesel generators on site as a
backup power source in the event a natural disaster disrupts
the primary power source of the airport.
(2) Backup diesel generators are subject to potential fuel
supply chain disruptions, especially in the event of a natural
disaster, which may negatively impact public safety and may
severely disrupt the airport's operating procedures if the
backup diesel generators aren't available during a primary
power source disruption event.
(3) Generally speaking, airports store enough diesel fuel
on-site to power their backup diesel generators for
approximately 72 hours after the primary power source
disruption event occurs.
(4) Electricity is fundamental to aviation operations and
the operation of many essential systems, equipment, technology,
and tools of the airport, therefore maintaining a sufficient
backup power capacity should be a priority.
(5) Back-up power sources, such as diesel generators or
microreactors, are critical to an airport's operational
continuity and may drive key airport functions in the event of
a primary power source disruption event stemming from a natural
disaster, including lights critical to illuminating runways,
all electronics within the airport, airplane refueling
stations, ticketing, signage, security checkpoints, retail and
commercial concessions, and elevators and escalators.
(6) Microreactors have the inherent benefit of avoiding
diesel-related supply chain constraints, and have the potential
to provide consistent, reliable, and clean electricity to power
the airport during a primary power source disruption event.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) Federal Aviation Administration-certified airports
should consider utilizing microreactors as an alternative to
diesel backup generators in the event of a primary power source
disruption;
(2) the Federal Government should initiate discussions to
deploy microreactors to respond to a primary power source
disruption event stemming from a natural disaster; and
(3) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should collaborate
with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency to consider expedited licensing of
microreactors to deploy in the event of primary power source
disruption.
SEC. 4. MICROREACTOR DEPLOYMENT AT AIRPORTS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration,
the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the
Secretary of Energy, or the designees thereof, shall collaborate to
establish procedures to, as soon as practicable, deploy microreactors
at airports to respond to a primary power source disruption event
stemming from a natural disaster.
(b) Considerations.--In establishing procedures under subsection
(a), the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Secretary of Energy
shall consider, if the Chairman, Administrators, and Secretary
determine appropriate--
(1) expediting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing
process associated with deploying microreactors in the event of
a natural disaster;
(2) pre-deployment strategies of microreactors, including--
(A) where airports currently store backup diesel
generators and an overview of the process, including
pros and cons, of utilizing backup diesel generators;
(B) the inherent benefits of utilizing
microreactors instead of a backup diesel generator and
when a backup diesel generator will suffice;
(C) how a microreactor would be transported to an
airport and transportation-related processes associated
with deploying the microreactor via plane, boat, rail,
or truck, depending on the location of the airport;
(D) any associated environmental considerations
that would have to be alleviated to do so;
(E) how to integrate microreactors into existing
electrical grids in primary power source disruption
events, including grid connection points, site load
limits, and existing infrastructure; and
(F) the timeliness of deploying the microreactor,
including--
(i) how long it would take to deploy the
microreactor;
(ii) how long it would take to set up the
microreactor to get the microreactor
operational; and
(iii) how long it would take to disconnect
the microreactor after the operational use;
(3) deployment strategies of microreactors, including--
(A) operating the microreactor in the deployment
event, including considerations relating to--
(i) personnel and labor and any associated
training; and
(ii) qualifications and considerations for
who should be responsible for oversight of such
personnel described in clause (i) and the
deployment of the microreactor;
(B) whether the operation of a microreactor would
inhibit normal airport operations, in the event of a
primary power source distribution, in comparison to a
diesel generator; and
(C) what facilities the microreactor would provide
electricity to;
(4) post-deployment strategies of microreactors, including
potential public-private partnerships that could be used to
assist with maintenance, replacement, storage, and disposal;
and
(5) other considerations, including--
(A) what entity would own the microreactor and any
contractual agreements or leases necessary for the
operation of the reactor, including potential contracts
with local utilities, the armed forces, or industry
stakeholders to deliver the microreactor when
necessary;
(B) how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can
leverage ongoing and existing licensing procedures to
maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of
establishing procedures to deploy microreactors at
airports; and
(C) any other considerations that would be
necessary to carry out the objective of this Act.
(c) Report.--Not later than 120 days after a determination on
appropriateness of the considerations described in subsection (b) is
made, the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator
of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Secretary of Energy
shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Homeland
Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works
of the Senate a report outlining the reasoning, findings, and any
recommended procedures found in making such considerations.
(d) FAA Guidance Update.--Not later than 180 days after the
procedures under subsection (b) are finalized, the Administrator of the
Federal Aviation Administration shall update guidance from the
Administration to consider the use of microreactors in airport
emergency plans.
(e) Airport Emergency Plan Update.--Not later than 270 days after
the procedures under subsection (b) are finalized, the Administrator of
the Federal Aviation Administration shall issue such regulations as are
necessary to update section 139.325 of title 14, Code of Federal
Regulations, to encourage certified airports to consider utilizing
microreactors to provide backup power in the case of a primary power
source disruption event as a result of an incident under subsection (b)
of such section.
(f) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Microreactor.--The term ``microreactor'' means an
advanced nuclear reactor (as such term is defined in section 3
of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42
U.S.C. 2215 note)), including a portable nuclear reactor, that
has an electricity generating capacity of not more than 20
megawatts of electricity and not more than 100 megawatts of
thermal energy.
(2) Natural disaster.--The term ``natural disaster'' has
the meaning given the term ``major disaster'' in section 102 of
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).
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