[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6268 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6268
To enable timely licensing reviews for nuclear reactor facilities at
brownfield sites and retired fossil fuel sites, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 7, 2023
Mr. Guthrie (for himself and Mr. Tonko) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To enable timely licensing reviews for nuclear reactor facilities at
brownfield sites and retired fossil fuel sites, 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 for Brownfield Site
Preparation Act''.
SEC. 2. REGULATORY ISSUES FOR NUCLEAR FACILITIES AT BROWNFIELD SITES
AND RETIRED FOSSIL FUEL SITES.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Brownfield site.--The term ``brownfield site'' has the
meaning given the term in section 101 of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
(42 U.S.C. 9601).
(2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.
(3) Covered site.--The term ``covered site'' means a
brownfield site, a retired fossil fuel site, or a site that is
both a retired fossil fuel site and a brownfield site.
(4) Production facility.--The term ``production facility''
has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).
(5) Retired fossil fuel site.--The term ``retired fossil
fuel site'' means the site of 1 or more fossil fuel electric
generation facilities that are retired or scheduled to retire,
including multiunit facilities that are partially shut down.
(6) Utilization facility.--The term ``utilization
facility'' has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the
Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).
(b) Identification of Regulatory Issues.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall evaluate the extent
to which modification of regulations, guidance, or policy is
needed to enable timely licensing reviews for, and to support
the oversight of, production facilities or utilization
facilities at covered sites.
(2) Requirement.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Commission shall consider how licensing reviews for production
facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites may be
expedited by--
(A) siting and operating a production facility or a
utilization facility at or near existing site
infrastructure to support the reuse of such
infrastructure, including--
(i) electric switchyard components and
transmission infrastructure;
(ii) heat-sink components;
(iii) steam cycle components;
(iv) roads;
(v) railroad access; and
(vi) water availability;
(B) using early site permits;
(C) using plant parameter envelopes or similar
standardized site parameters on a portion of a larger
site; and
(D) using a standardized application for similar
sites.
(3) Report.--Not later than 14 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report describing any
regulations, guidance, and policies evaluated under paragraph
(1).
(c) Licensing.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, based on the
evaluation under subsection (b)--
(A) develop and implement strategies to enable
timely licensing reviews for, and to support the
oversight of, production facilities or utilization
facilities at covered sites; and
(B) initiate a rulemaking to enable timely
licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of,
production facilities or utilization facilities at
covered sites.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1),
consistent with the mission of the Commission, the Commission
shall consider matters relating to--
(A) the use of existing site infrastructure;
(B) existing emergency preparedness organizations
and planning;
(C) the availability of historical site-specific
environmental data;
(D) previously completed environmental reviews
required by the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
(E) activities associated with the potential
decommissioning of facilities or decontamination and
remediation at covered sites; and
(F) community engagement and historical experience
with energy production.
(d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the 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 describing the
actions taken by the Commission under subsection (c)(1).
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