[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4602 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4602

 To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy Reorganization 
  Act of 1974 to strengthen security at sensitive nuclear facilities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 16, 2005

Mrs. Lowey (for herself and Mr. Hinchey) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy Reorganization 
  Act of 1974 to strengthen security at sensitive nuclear facilities.

    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 Security Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection jj. as subsection ii.; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``jj. Design Basis Threat.--The term `design basis threat' means 
the design basis threat established by the Commission under section 
73.1 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulation developed under section 170C).
    ``kk. Sensitive Nuclear Facility.--The term `sensitive nuclear 
facility' means--
            ``(1) a commercial nuclear power plant and associated spent 
        fuel storage facility;
            ``(2) a decommissioned nuclear power plant and associated 
        spent fuel storage facility;
            ``(3) a category I fuel cycle facility;
            ``(4) a gaseous diffusion plant; and
            ``(5) any other facility licensed by the Commission, or 
        used in the conduct of an activity licensed by the Commission, 
        that the Commission determines should be treated as a sensitive 
        nuclear facility under section 170C.''.

SEC. 3. NUCLEAR SECURITY.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 14 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 170C. PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE NUCLEAR FACILITIES AGAINST THE 
              DESIGN BASIS THREAT.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Nuclear security force.--The term `nuclear security 
        force' means the nuclear security force established under 
        subsection (b)(1).
            ``(2) Fund.--The term `Fund' means the Nuclear Security 
        Fund established under subsection (e).
            ``(3) Qualification standard.--The term `qualification 
        standard' means a qualification standard established under 
        subsection (d)(2)(A).
            ``(4) Security plan.--The term `security plan' means a 
        security plan developed under subsection (b)(2).
    ``(b) Nuclear Security.--The Commission shall--
            ``(1) establish a nuclear security force, the members of 
        which shall be employees of the Commission, to provide for the 
        security of all sensitive nuclear facilities against the design 
        basis threat; and
            ``(2) develop and implement a security plan for each 
        sensitive nuclear facility to ensure the security of all 
        sensitive nuclear facilities against the design basis threat.
    ``(c) Security Plans.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section, the Commission shall develop a 
        security plan for each sensitive nuclear facility to ensure the 
        protection of each sensitive nuclear facility against the 
        design basis threat.
            ``(2) Elements of the plan.--A security plan shall 
        prescribe--
                    ``(A) the deployment of the nuclear security force, 
                including--
                            ``(i) numbers of the members of the nuclear 
                        security force at each sensitive nuclear 
                        facility;
                            ``(ii) tactics of the members of the 
                        nuclear security force at each sensitive 
                        nuclear facility; and
                            ``(iii) capabilities of the members of the 
                        nuclear security force at each sensitive 
                        nuclear facility;
                    ``(B) other protective measures, including--
                            ``(i) designs of critical control systems 
                        at each sensitive nuclear facility;
                            ``(ii) restricted personnel access to each 
                        sensitive nuclear facility;
                            ``(iii) perimeter site security, internal 
                        site security, and fire protection barriers;
                            ``(iv) increases in protection for spent 
                        fuel storage areas;
                            ``(v) placement of spent fuel in dry cask 
                        storage; and
                            ``(vi) background security checks for 
                        employees and prospective employees; and
                    ``(C) a schedule for completing the requirements of 
                the security plan not later than 18 months after the 
                date of enactment of this section.
            ``(3) Additional requirements.--A holder of a license for a 
        sensitive nuclear facility under section 103 or 104 or the 
        State or local government in which a sensitive nuclear facility 
        is located may petition the Commission for additional 
        requirements in the security plan for the sensitive nuclear 
        facility.
            ``(4) Implementation of security plan.--Not later than 270 
        days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
        Commission, in consultation with a holder of a license for a 
        sensitive nuclear facility under section 103 or 104, shall, by 
        direct action of the Commission or by order requiring action by 
        the licensee, implement the security plan for the sensitive 
        nuclear facility in accordance with the schedule under 
        paragraph (2)(C).
            ``(5) Sufficiency of security plan.--If at any time the 
        Commission determines that the implementation of the 
        requirements of the security plan for a sensitive nuclear 
        facility is insufficient to ensure the security of the 
        sensitive nuclear facility against the design basis threat, the 
        Commission shall immediately submit to Congress and the 
        President a classified report that--
                    ``(A) identifies the vulnerability of the sensitive 
                nuclear facility; and
                    ``(B) recommends actions by Federal, State, or 
                local agencies to eliminate the vulnerability.
    ``(d) Nuclear Security Force.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this section, the Commission, in consultation 
        with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall establish a 
        program for the hiring and training of the nuclear security 
        force.
            ``(2) Hiring.--
                    ``(A) Qualification standards.--Not later than 30 
                days after the date of enactment of this section, the 
                Commission shall establish qualification standards that 
                individuals shall be required to meet to be hired by 
                the Commission as members of the nuclear security 
                force.
                    ``(B) Examination.--The Commission shall develop 
                and administer a nuclear security force personnel 
                examination for use in determining the qualification of 
                individuals seeking employment as members of the 
                nuclear security force.
                    ``(C) Criminal and security background checks.--The 
                Commission shall require that an individual to be hired 
                as a member of the nuclear security force undergo a 
                criminal and security background check.
                    ``(D) Disqualification of individuals who present 
                national security risks.--The Commission, in 
                consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, 
                as appropriate, shall establish procedures, in addition 
                to any background check conducted under subparagraph 
                (B), to ensure that no individual who presents a threat 
                to national security is employed as a member of the 
                nuclear security force.
            ``(3) Annual proficiency review.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall provide 
                that an annual evaluation of each member of the nuclear 
                security force is conducted and documented.
                    ``(B) Requirements for continuation.--An individual 
                employed as a member of the nuclear security force may 
                not continue to be employed in that capacity unless the 
                evaluation under subparagraph (A) demonstrates that the 
                individual--
                            ``(i) continues to meet all qualification 
                        standards;
                            ``(ii) has a satisfactory record of 
                        performance and attention to duty; and
                            ``(iii) has the knowledge and skills 
                        necessary to vigilantly and effectively provide 
                        for the security of a sensitive nuclear 
                        facility against the design basis threat.
            ``(4) Training.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Commission shall provide for 
                the training of each member of the nuclear security 
                force to ensure each member has the knowledge and 
                skills necessary to provide for the security of a 
                sensitive nuclear facility against the design basis 
                threat.
                    ``(B) Training plan.--Not later than 60 days after 
                the date of enactment of this section, the Commission 
                shall develop a plan for the training of members of the 
                nuclear security force.
                    ``(C) Use of other agencies.--The Commission may 
                enter into a memorandum of understanding or other 
                arrangement with any other Federal agency with 
                appropriate law enforcement responsibilities, to 
                provide personnel, resources, or other forms of 
                assistance in the training of members of the nuclear 
                security force.
    ``(e) Nuclear Security Fund.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury 
        of the United States a fund to be known as the `Nuclear 
        Security Fund', which shall be used by the Commission to 
        administer programs under this section to provide for the 
        security of sensitive nuclear facilities.
            ``(2) Deposits in the fund.--The Commission shall deposit 
        in the Fund--
                    ``(A) the amount of fees collected under paragraph 
                (5); and
                    ``(B) amounts appropriated under subsection (f).
            ``(3) Investment of amounts.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
                shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the 
                judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to 
                meet current withdrawals. Investments may be made only 
                in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.
                    ``(B) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose 
                of investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may 
                be acquired--
                            ``(i) on original issue at the issue price; 
                        or
                            ``(ii) by purchase of outstanding 
                        obligations at the market price.
                    ``(C) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired 
                by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the 
                Treasury at the market price.
                    ``(D) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the 
                proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any 
                obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and 
                form a part of the Fund.
            ``(4) Use of amounts in the fund.--The Commission shall use 
        amounts in the Fund to pay the costs of--
                    ``(A) salaries, training, and other expenses of the 
                nuclear security force; and
                    ``(B) developing and implementing security plans.
            ``(5) Fee.--To ensure that adequate amounts are available 
        to provide assistance under paragraph (4), the Commission shall 
        assess licensees a fee in an amount determined by the 
        Commission.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.''.
    (b) Implementation.--The Commission shall complete the full 
implementation of the amendment made by subsection (a) as soon as 
practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, but in no event 
later than 270 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for 
chapter 14 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. prec. 2011) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``170B. Uranium supply.
``170C. Protection of sensitive nuclear facilities against the design 
                            basis threat.''.
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