H.R. 6268

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6268 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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.

_______________________________________________________________________

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).
<all>