[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2795 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2795

             To modernize the regulation of nuclear energy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 13, 2016

  Mr. Inhofe (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Crapo) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
             To modernize the regulation of nuclear energy.

    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 Energy Innovation and 
Modernization Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the safe and secure operation of nuclear reactors in 
        the United States must remain the paramount focus of the 
        Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
            (2) the existing fleet of nuclear reactors in the United 
        States is operating safely and securely;
            (3) nuclear energy is the largest source of affordable, 
        reliable, emissions-free energy in the United States, providing 
        approximately 20 percent of the electricity consumed in the 
        United States and 60 percent of emissions-free electricity 
        generation in the United States;
            (4) a 1,000-megawatt nuclear plant--
                    (A) provides approximately 500 permanent jobs;
                    (B) pays approximately $40,000,000 annually in 
                wages;
                    (C) generates approximately $470,000,000 annually 
                in goods and services in the local community; and
                    (D) pays approximately $83,000,000 annually in 
                Federal, State, and local taxes;
            (5) nuclear energy is of critical importance to United 
        States energy security and worldwide influence on 
        nonproliferation;
            (6) nuclear energy uses widely available fuel resources to 
        enable scientific progress, emissions-free and reliable 
        electricity generation, heat generation for industrial 
        applications, and power for deep space exploration;
            (7) the private sector, the National Laboratories (as 
        defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
        U.S.C. 15801)), and institutions of higher education are 
        pursuing innovations in nuclear energy technology that will 
        play a crucial role in--
                    (A) the future global and United States energy 
                supply; and
                    (B) the exports, manufacturing, and economy of the 
                United States;
            (8) eventual deployment of commercial advanced nuclear 
        reactors will require--
                    (A) modernizing the regulatory framework; and
                    (B) making other necessary changes to facilitate 
                the efficient, predictable, and affordable deployment 
                of advanced nuclear reactor technologies;
            (9) 2 impediments to the commercialization of advanced 
        nuclear reactors are the high costs and long durations 
        associated with applying the existing nuclear regulatory 
        framework to advanced nuclear reactors;
            (10) license application reviews should be as predictable 
        and efficient as practicable without compromising safety or 
        security;
            (11) the existing nuclear regulatory framework and the 
        requirements of that framework have not adapted to advances in 
        scientific understanding or the features and performance 
        characteristics of advanced nuclear reactor designs;
            (12) the existing nuclear reactor licensing process does 
        not provide iterative feedback to manage risk as needed for 
        typical technology development and investment cycles;
            (13) a staged licensing structure that provides clear and 
        periodic feedback to applicants on an agreed schedule will help 
        to enable the commercialization of safer and innovative 
        technologies that will benefit the economy, national security, 
        and environment of the United States;
            (14) a technology-inclusive Commission regulatory framework 
        will--
                    (A) allow greater technological innovation; and
                    (B) enable inventors, scientists, engineers, and 
                students to pursue licensing advanced reactor concepts;
            (15) further preparation by the Commission of the research 
        and test reactor licensing process will enable the Commission 
        to more efficiently process applications for research and test 
        reactors when the applications are received;
            (16) it is incumbent on the Commission--
                    (A) to budget for adequate resources to conduct 
                licensing reviews and other work requested by licensees 
                and applicants; and
                    (B) to preserve those budgeted funds to ensure 
                responsiveness to licensees and applicants in 
                recognition of the dependence of the licensees and 
                applicants on Commission approval before the benefits 
                of the technology of the licensees and applicants can 
                be realized; and
            (17) both prospective commercial advanced nuclear reactor 
        applicants and the existing fleet of nuclear reactors in the 
        United States would benefit from modernizing the outdated fee 
        recovery structure of the Commission to better manage 
        fluctuations in workload and the number of licensees in a fair 
        and equitable manner.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to provide--
            (1) a program to develop the expertise and regulatory 
        processes necessary to allow innovation and the 
        commercialization of advanced nuclear reactors; and
            (2) a revised fee recovery structure to ensure the 
        availability of resources to meet industry needs without 
        burdening existing licensees unfairly for inaccurate workload 
        projections or premature existing reactor closures.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advanced nuclear reactor.--The term ``advanced nuclear 
        reactor'' means a nuclear fission or fusion reactor, including 
        a prototype plant (as defined in sections 50.2 and 52.1 of 
        title 10, Code of Federal Regulations), with significant 
        improvements over existing commercial nuclear reactors, 
        including improvements such as--
                    (A) additional inherent safety features;
                    (B) lower waste yields;
                    (C) greater fuel utilization;
                    (D) enhanced reliability;
                    (E) increased proliferation resistance;
                    (F) increased thermal efficiency; or
                    (G) ability to integrate into electric and 
                nonelectric applications.
            (2) Agreement state.--The term ``Agreement State'' means 
        any State with which the Commission has entered into an 
        effective agreement under section 274 b. of the Atomic Energy 
        Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2021(b)).
            (3) Applicant.--The term ``applicant'' means an applicant 
        for a license, certification, permit, or other form of approval 
        from the Commission for a commercial advanced nuclear reactor 
        or a research and test reactor.
            (4) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the Committee on 
        Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
            (5) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Nuclear 
        Regulatory Commission.
            (6) Corporate support costs.--The term ``corporate support 
        costs'' means expenditures for acquisitions, administrative 
        services, financial management, human resource management, 
        information management, information technology, policy support, 
        outreach, and training, as those categories are described and 
        calculated in Appendix A of the Congressional Budget 
        Justification for Fiscal Year 2017 of the Commission.
            (7) Licensing project plan.--The term ``licensing project 
        plan'' means a plan that describes--
                    (A) the interactions between an applicant and the 
                Commission; and
                    (B) project schedules and deliverables in specific 
                detail to support long-range resource planning 
                undertaken by the Commission and an applicant.
            (8) Regulatory framework.--The term ``regulatory 
        framework'' means the framework for reviewing requests for 
        certifications, permits, approvals, and licenses for nuclear 
        power plants.
            (9) Requested activity of the commission.--The term 
        ``requested activity of the Commission'' means--
                    (A) the processing of applications for--
                            (i) design certifications or approvals;
                            (ii) licenses;
                            (iii) permits;
                            (iv) license amendments;
                            (v) license renewals;
                            (vi) certificates of compliance; and
                            (vii) power uprates; and
                    (B) any other activity requested by a licensee or 
                applicant.
            (10) Research and test reactor.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``research and test 
                reactor'' means a reactor that--
                            (i) falls within the licensing and related 
                        regulatory authority of the Commission under 
                        section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 
                        1974 (42 U.S.C. 5842); and
                            (ii) is useful in the conduct of research 
                        and development activities as licensed under 
                        section 104 c. of the Atomic Energy Act (42 
                        U.S.C. 2134(c)).
                    (B) Exclusion.--The term ``research and test 
                reactor'' does not include a commercial advanced 
                nuclear reactor.
            (11) Standard design approval.--The term ``standard design 
        approval'' means the approval of a final standard design or a 
        major portion of a final design standard as described in 
        subpart E of part 52 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (12) Statement of licensing feasibility.--The term 
        ``statement of licensing feasibility'' means an early-stage 
        review by the Commission that--
                    (A) assesses preliminary design information for 
                consistency with applicable regulatory requirements of 
                the Commission;
                    (B) is performed on a set of topic areas agreed to 
                in the licensing project plan; and
                    (C) is performed at a cost and schedule agreed to 
                in the licensing project plan.
            (13) Technology-inclusive regulatory framework.--The term 
        ``technology-inclusive regulatory framework'' means a 
        regulatory framework developed using methods of evaluation that 
        are flexible and practicable for application to a variety of 
        reactor technologies, including the use of risk-informed and 
        performance-based techniques and other tools and methods.
            (14) Topical report.--The term ``topical report'' means a 
        document submitted to the Commission that addresses a technical 
        topic related to nuclear power plant safety or design.

SEC. 5. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION USER FEES AND ANNUAL CHARGES 
              THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2018.

    (a) In General.--Section 6101(c)(2)(A) of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 2214(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
            (1) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (iv), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) amounts appropriated to the 
                        Commission for the fiscal year for activities 
                        related to the development of a regulatory 
                        framework for advanced nuclear reactor 
                        technologies, including activities required 
                        under section 7 of the Nuclear Energy 
                        Innovation and Modernization Act.''.
    (b) Repeal.--Effective October 1, 2018, section 6101 of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 2214) is repealed.

SEC. 6. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION USER FEES AND ANNUAL CHARGES FOR 
              FISCAL YEAR 2019 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER.

    (a) Annual Budget Justification.--
            (1) In general.--In the annual budget justification 
        submitted by the Commission to Congress, the Commission shall 
        expressly identify anticipated expenditures necessary for 
        completion of the requested activities of the Commission 
        anticipated to occur during the applicable fiscal year.
            (2) Restriction.--Budget authority granted to the 
        Commission for purposes of the requested activities of the 
        Commission shall be used solely for conducting requested 
        activities of the Commission.
            (3) Limitation on corporate support costs.--With respect to 
        the annual budget justification submitted to Congress, 
        corporate support costs, to the maximum extent practicable, 
        shall not exceed the following percentages of the total budget 
        authority of the Commission requested in the annual budget 
        justification:
                    (A) 30 percent for each of fiscal years 2019 and 
                2020.
                    (B) 29 percent for each of fiscal years 2021 and 
                2022.
                    (C) 28 percent for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal 
                year thereafter.
    (b) Fees and Charges.--
            (1) Annual assessment.--
                    (A) In general.--Each fiscal year, the Commission 
                shall assess and collect fees and charges in accordance 
                with paragraphs (2) and (3) in a manner that ensures 
                that, to the maximum extent practicable, the amount 
                collected is equal to an amount that approximates--
                            (i) the total budget authority of the 
                        Commission for that fiscal year; less
                            (ii) the budget authority of the Commission 
                        for the activities described in subparagraph 
                        (B).
                    (B) Excluded activities described.--The activities 
                referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) are the following:
                            (i) An activity not attributable to an 
                        existing NRC licensee or class of licensee, 
                        including those activities identified by the 
                        Commission in Table III of the final rule of 
                        the Commission entitled ``Revision of Fee 
                        Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year 2015'' 
                        (80 Fed. Reg. 37432 (June 30, 2015)).
                            (ii) Amounts appropriated for a fiscal year 
                        to the Commission--
                                    (I) from the Nuclear Waste Fund 
                                established under section 302(c) of the 
                                Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 
                                U.S.C. 10222(c));
                                    (II) for implementation of section 
                                3116 of the Ronald W. Reagan National 
                                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
                                Year 2005 (50 U.S.C. 2601 note; Public 
                                Law 108-375);
                                    (III) for the homeland security 
                                activities of the Commission (other 
                                than for the costs of fingerprinting 
                                and background checks required under 
                                section 149 of the Atomic Energy Act of 
                                1954 (42 U.S.C. 2169) and the costs of 
                                conducting security inspections);
                                    (IV) for the Inspector General 
                                services of the Commission provided to 
                                the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety 
                                Board; and
                                    (V) for any other fee-relief 
                                activity described in the final rule of 
                                the Commission entitled ``Revision of 
                                Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal 
                                Year 2015'' (80 Fed. Reg. 37432 (June 
                                30, 2015)).
                            (iii) Costs for activities related to the 
                        development of regulatory infrastructure for 
                        advanced nuclear reactor technologies, 
                        including activities required under section 7.
                    (C) Exception.--The exclusion described in 
                subparagraph (B)(iii) shall cease to be effective on 
                January 1, 2030.
                    (D) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2028, the 
                Commission shall submit to the Committee on 
                Appropriations and the Committee on Environment and 
                Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
                of the House of Representatives a report describing the 
                views of the Commission on the continued 
                appropriateness and necessity of the funding described 
                in subparagraph (B)(iii).
            (2) Fees for service or thing of value.--In accordance with 
        section 9701 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission 
        shall charge fees to any person who receives a service or thing 
        of value from the Commission to cover the costs to the 
        Commission of providing the service or thing of value.
            (3) Annual fees.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B) and 
                except as provided in subparagraph (D), the Commission 
                may charge to any licensee or certificate holder of the 
                Commission an annual fee.
                    (B) Cap on annual fees of certain licensees.--
                            (i) In general.--The annual fee under 
                        subparagraph (A) charged to an operating 
                        reactor licensee shall not exceed the annual 
                        fee amount per operating reactor licensee 
                        established in the final rule of the Commission 
                        entitled ``Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee 
                        Recovery for Fiscal Year 2015'' (80 Fed. Reg. 
                        37432 (June 30, 2015)), as may be adjusted 
                        annually by the Commission to reflect changes 
                        in the Consumer Price Index published by the 
                        Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of 
                        Labor.
                            (ii) Waiver.--If the Commission determines 
                        that the annual fee cap described in clause (i) 
                        may compromise the safety and security missions 
                        of the Commission, the Commission shall--
                                    (I) notify the Committee on 
                                Appropriations and the Committee on 
                                Environment and Public Works of the 
                                Senate and the Committee on 
                                Appropriations and the Committee on 
                                Energy and Commerce of the House of 
                                Representatives of the determination, 
                                including a detailed explanation of the 
                                cause and circumstances; and
                                    (II) request from Congress a 1-year 
                                waiver of the cap.
                    (C) Amount per licensee.--
                            (i) In general.--The Commission shall 
                        establish by rule a schedule of fees fairly and 
                        equitably allocating the aggregate amount of 
                        charges described in subparagraph (A) among 
                        licensees and certificate holders.
                            (ii) Requirement.--The schedule of fees 
                        under clause (i)--
                                    (I) to the maximum extent 
                                practicable, shall be based on the cost 
                                of providing regulatory services; and
                                    (II) may be based on the allocation 
                                of the resources of the Commission 
                                among licensees or certificate holders 
                                or classes of licensees or certificate 
                                holders.
                    (D) Exemption.--
                            (i) Definition of research reactor.--In 
                        this subparagraph, the term ``research 
                        reactor'' means a nuclear reactor that--
                                    (I) is licensed by the Commission 
                                under section 104 c. of the Atomic 
                                Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2134(c)) 
                                for operation at a thermal power level 
                                of not more than 10 megawatts; and
                                    (II) if licensed under subclause 
                                (I) for operation at a thermal power 
                                level of more than 1 megawatt, does not 
                                contain--
                                            (aa) a circulating loop 
                                        through the core in which the 
                                        licensee conducts fuel 
                                        experiments;
                                            (bb) a liquid fuel loading; 
                                        or
                                            (cc) an experimental 
                                        facility in the core in excess 
                                        of 16 square inches in cross-
                                        section.
                            (ii) Exemption.--Subparagraph (A) shall not 
                        apply to the holder of any license for a 
                        federally owned research reactor used primarily 
                        for educational training and academic research 
                        purposes.
    (c) Performance and Reporting.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop for the 
        requested activities of the Commission--
                    (A) performance metrics; and
                    (B) on each request, milestone schedules.
            (2) Delays in issuance of final safety evaluation.--The 
        Executive Director for Operations of the Commission shall 
        inform the Commission of a delay in issuance of the final 
        safety evaluation for a requested activity of the Commission by 
        the completion date required by the performance metrics or 
        milestone schedule under paragraph (1) by not later than 30 
        days after the completion date.
            (3) Delays in issuance of final safety evaluation exceeding 
        180 days.--If the final safety evaluation for the requested 
        activity of the Commission described in paragraph (2) is not 
        completed by the date that is 180 days after the completion 
        date required by the performance metrics or milestone schedule 
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a timely report describing 
        the delay, including a detailed explanation accounting for the 
        delay and a plan for timely completion of the final safety 
        evaluation.
    (d) Accurate Invoicing.--With respect to invoices for fees and 
charges described in subsection (b)(2), the Commission shall--
            (1) ensure appropriate management review and concurrence 
        prior to the issuance of invoices;
            (2) develop and implement processes to audit invoices to 
        ensure accuracy, transparency, and fairness; and
            (3) modify regulations to ensure fair and appropriate 
        processes to provide licensees and applicants an opportunity to 
        efficiently dispute or otherwise seek review and correction of 
        errors in invoices for fees and charges.
    (e) Report.--Not later than September 30, 2020, the Commission 
shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
Appropriations and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report describing the implementation of this section, 
including any impacts and recommendations for improvement.
    (f) Effective Date.--This section takes effect on October 1, 2018.

SEC. 7. ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR PROGRAM.

    (a) Licensing of Commercial Advanced Nuclear Reactors.--
            (1) Staged licensing.--For the purpose of predictable, 
        efficient, and timely reviews, not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall develop and 
        implement, within the existing regulatory framework, strategies 
        for--
                    (A) establishing stages in the licensing process 
                for commercial advanced nuclear reactors; and
                    (B) developing procedures and processes for--
                            (i) using a licensing project plan; and
                            (ii) optional use of a statement of 
                        licensing feasibility.
            (2) Risk-informed licensing.--Not later than 2 years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall develop 
        and implement strategies for the increased use of risk-
        informed, performance-based licensing evaluation techniques and 
        guidance for commercial advanced nuclear reactors within 
        existing regulatory frameworks, including evaluation techniques 
        and guidance for the resolution of the following:
                    (A) Applicable policy issues identified during the 
                course of review by the Commission of a commercial 
                advanced nuclear reactor licensing application.
                    (B) The issues described in SECY-93-092 and SECY-
                15-077, including--
                            (i) licensing basis event selection and 
                        evaluation;
                            (ii) source terms;
                            (iii) containment performance; and
                            (iv) emergency preparedness.
            (3) Research and test reactor licensing.--For the purpose 
        of predictable, efficient, and timely reviews, not later than 2 
        years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission 
        shall develop and implement strategies to prepare an 
        appropriate regulatory framework for licensing research and 
        test reactors, including the issuance of guidance.
            (4) Technology-inclusive regulatory framework.--Not later 
        than December 31, 2023, the Commission shall complete a 
        rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive, regulatory 
        framework for optional use by commercial advanced nuclear 
        reactor applicants for new reactor license applications.
            (5) Training and expertise.--As soon as practicable after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall provide 
        for staff training or the hiring of experts, as necessary--
                    (A) to support the activities described in 
                paragraphs (1) through (4); and
                    (B) to support preparations--
                            (i) to conduct pre-application 
                        interactions; and
                            (ii) to review commercial advanced nuclear 
                        reactor license applications.
            (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this 
        subsection such sums as are necessary.
    (b) Plan To Establish Stages in the Commercial Advanced Nuclear 
Reactor Licensing Process.--
            (1) Plan required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a plan for expediting and 
        establishing stages in the licensing process for commercial 
        advanced nuclear reactors that will allow implementation of the 
        licensing process by not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``plan'').
            (2) Coordination and stakeholder input.--In developing the 
        plan, the Commission shall seek input from the Secretary of 
        Energy, the nuclear energy industry, a diverse set of 
        technology developers, and other public stakeholders.
            (3) Cost and schedule estimates.--The plan shall include 
        proposed cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes for 
        implementing strategies to establish stages in the licensing 
        process for commercial advanced nuclear reactor technologies.
            (4) Required evaluations.--Consistent with the role of the 
        Commission in protecting public health and safety and common 
        defense and security, the plan shall evaluate--
                    (A)(i) the unique aspects of commercial advanced 
                nuclear reactor licensing, including the use of 
                alternative coolants or alternative fuels, operation at 
                or near atmospheric pressure, and the use of passive 
                safety strategies; and
                    (ii) for the purposes of predictable, efficient, 
                and timely reviews, any associated legal, regulatory, 
                and policy issues the Commission should address with 
                regard to the licensing of commercial advanced nuclear 
                reactor technologies;
                    (B) options for licensing commercial advanced 
                nuclear reactors under the regulations of the 
                Commission contained in title 10, Code of Federal 
                Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of 
                this Act), including--
                            (i) the development and use under the 
                        regulatory framework of the Commission in 
                        effect on the date of enactment of this Act of 
                        a licensing project plan that could establish--
                                    (I) milestones that--
                                            (aa) correspond to stages 
                                        of a licensing process for the 
                                        specific situation of a 
                                        commercial advanced nuclear 
                                        reactor project; and
                                            (bb) use knowledge of the 
                                        ability of the Commission to 
                                        review certain design aspects; 
                                        and
                                    (II) guidelines defining the roles 
                                and responsibilities between the 
                                Commission and the applicant at the 
                                onset of the interaction--
                                            (aa) to provide the 
                                        foundation for effective 
                                        communication and effective 
                                        project management; and
                                            (bb) to ensure efficient 
                                        progress and rapid resolution 
                                        of conflicts;
                            (ii) the use of topical reports, standard 
                        design approval, and other appropriate 
                        mechanisms as tools to introduce stages into 
                        the commercial advanced nuclear reactor 
                        licensing process, including how the licensing 
                        project plan might structure the use of those 
                        mechanisms;
                            (iii) collaboration with standards-setting 
                        organizations to identify specific technical 
                        areas for which new or updated standards are 
                        needed and providing assistance if appropriate 
                        to ensure the new or updated standards are 
                        developed and finalized in a timely fashion;
                            (iv) the incorporation of consensus-based 
                        codes and standards developed under clause 
                        (iii) into the regulatory framework--
                                    (I) to provide predictability for 
                                the regulatory processes of the 
                                Commission; and
                                    (II) to ensure timely completion of 
                                specific licensing actions;
                            (v) the development of a process for, and 
                        the use of, statements of licensing 
                        feasibility; and
                            (vi) identification of any policies and 
                        guidance for staff that will be needed to 
                        implement clauses (i) and (ii);
                    (C) options for improving the efficiency, 
                timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of licensing reviews 
                of commercial advanced nuclear reactors, including 
                opportunities to minimize the delays that may result 
                from any necessary amendment or supplement to an 
                application;
                    (D) options for improving the predictability of the 
                commercial advanced nuclear reactor licensing process, 
                including the evaluation of opportunities to improve 
                the process by which application review milestones are 
                established and met; and
                    (E) the extent to which Commission action or 
                modification of policy is needed to implement any part 
                of the plan.
    (c) Plan To Increase the Use of Risk-Informed and Performance-Based 
Evaluation Techniques and Regulatory Guidance.--
            (1) Plan required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a plan for increasing the 
        use of risk-informed and performance-based evaluation 
        techniques and regulatory guidance in licensing commercial 
        advanced nuclear reactors within the existing regulatory 
        framework (referred to in this subsection as the ``plan'').
            (2) Coordination and stakeholder input.--In developing the 
        plan, the Commission shall seek input from the Secretary of 
        Energy, the nuclear energy industry, technology developers, and 
        other public stakeholders.
            (3) Cost and schedule estimate.--The plan shall include 
        proposed cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes for 
        implementing a strategy to increase the use of risk-informed 
        and performance-based evaluation techniques and regulatory 
        guidance in licensing commercial advanced nuclear reactors.
            (4) Required evaluations.--Consistent with the role of the 
        Commission in protecting public health and safety and common 
        defense and security, the plan shall evaluate--
                    (A) the ability of the Commission to develop and 
                implement risk-informed and performance-based licensing 
                evaluation techniques and guidance for commercial 
                advanced nuclear reactors within existing regulatory 
                frameworks not later than 2 years after the date of 
                enactment of this Act, including policies and guidance 
                for the resolution of--
                            (i) issues relating to--
                                    (I) licensing basis event selection 
                                and evaluation;
                                    (II) use of mechanistic source 
                                terms;
                                    (III) containment performance; and
                                    (IV) emergency preparedness; and
                            (ii) other policy issues previously 
                        identified; and
                    (B) the extent to which Commission action is needed 
                to implement any part of the plan.
    (d) Plan To Complete a Rulemaking To Establish a Technology-
Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Optional Use by Commercial Advanced 
Nuclear Reactor Technologies in New Reactor License Applications.--
            (1) Plan required.--Not later than 18 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a plan for completing a 
        rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive regulatory 
        framework for optional use by applicants in licensing 
        commercial advanced nuclear reactor technologies in new reactor 
        license applications (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``plan'').
            (2) Coordination and stakeholder input.--In developing the 
        plan, the Commission shall seek input from the Secretary of 
        Energy, the nuclear energy industry, a diverse set of 
        technology developers, and other public stakeholders.
            (3) Cost and schedule estimate.--The plan shall include 
        proposed cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes for developing 
        and implementing a technology-inclusive regulatory framework 
        for licensing commercial advanced nuclear reactor technologies, 
        including completion of a rulemaking.
            (4) Required evaluations.--Consistent with the role of the 
        Commission in protecting public health and safety and common 
        defense and security, the plan shall evaluate--
                    (A) the ability of the Commission to complete a 
                rulemaking to establish a technology-inclusive 
                regulatory framework for licensing commercial advanced 
                nuclear reactor technologies by December 31, 2023; and
                    (B) the extent to which additional legislation, or 
                Commission action or modification of policy, is needed 
                to implement any part of the plan.
    (e) Plan To Prepare the Research and Test Reactor Licensing 
Process.--
            (1) Plan required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a plan for preparing the 
        licensing process for research and test reactors (referred to 
        in this subsection as the ``plan'').
            (2) Coordination and stakeholder input.--In developing the 
        plan, the Commission shall seek input from the Secretary of 
        Energy, the nuclear energy industry, a diverse set of 
        technology developers, and other public stakeholders.
            (3) Cost and schedule estimates.--The plan shall include 
        proposed cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes for preparing 
        the licensing process for research and test reactors.
            (4) Required evaluations.--Consistent with the role of the 
        Commission in protecting public health and safety and common 
        defense and security, the plan shall evaluate--
                    (A) the unique aspects of research and test reactor 
                licensing and any associated legal, regulatory, and 
                policy issues the Commission should address to prepare 
                the licensing process for research and test reactors;
                    (B) the feasibility of developing guidelines for 
                advanced reactor demonstrations to support the review 
                process for advanced reactor designs, including designs 
                that use alternative coolants or alternative fuels, 
                operate at or near atmospheric pressure, and use 
                passive safety strategies; and
                    (C) the extent to which Commission action or 
                modification of policy is needed to implement any part 
                of the plan.
    (f) Plan To Enhance Commission Expertise Relating to Advanced 
Nuclear Reactor Technologies.--
            (1) Plan required.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the 
        appropriate congressional committees a plan for ensuring that 
        the Commission has adequate expertise, modeling, and simulation 
        capabilities, or access to those capabilities, to support the 
        evaluation of licensing applications for commercial advanced 
        nuclear reactors and research and test reactors, including 
        applications that use alternative coolants or alternative 
        fuels, operate at or near atmospheric pressure, and use passive 
        safety strategies (referred to in this subsection as the 
        ``plan'').
            (2) Cost and schedule estimates.--The plan shall include 
        proposed cost estimates, budgets, and timeframes for acquiring 
        or accessing the necessary expertise to support the evaluation 
        of license applications for commercial advanced nuclear 
        reactors and research and test reactors.
            (3) Annual updates to plan.--The Commission shall--
                    (A) update the plan on an annual basis; and
                    (B) submit for review to the appropriate 
                congressional committees the updated plan.

SEC. 8. HEARINGS UNDER ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF 1954.

    (a) In General.--Section 189 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2239) is amended--
            (1) in subsection a.--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking the second and 
                third sentences and inserting the following: ``On each 
                application under section 103 or 104 b. for a 
                construction permit or an operating license, on 
                application under section 104 c. for a construction 
                permit or an operating license for a testing facility, 
                and on application for an amendment to a construction 
                permit or an operating license under those sections, 
                the Commission may, in the absence of a request for a 
                hearing by any person whose interest may be affected 
                and after 30-day notice and publication of notice in 
                the Federal Register, issue a construction permit, an 
                operating license, or an amendment to a construction 
                permit or an operating license without a hearing.''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``required hearing'' and inserting ``hearing 
                held by the Commission under this section''; and
            (2) in subsection b. (2), by striking ``to begin 
        operating'' and inserting ``to operate''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 185 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
        U.S.C. 2235(b)) is amended in the first sentence by striking 
        ``After holding a public hearing under section 189 a. (1)(A),'' 
        and inserting ``After holding a hearing under section 189 a. 
        (1)(A), or as soon as practicable if the Commission has 
        determined that no hearing is required to be held under that 
        section,''.
            (2) Section 193(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
        U.S.C. 2243(b)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall conduct a single 
        adjudicatory hearing if a person whose interest may be affected 
        by the construction and operation of a facility under sections 
        53 and 63 has requested a hearing regarding the licensing of 
        the construction and operation of the facility.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Such hearing'' 
                and inserting ``If a hearing is held under paragraph 
                (1), the hearing''.
    (c) Effect.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to all 
applications and proceedings pending before the Commission on or after 
the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 9. ADVANCED NUCLEAR ENERGY LICENSING COST-SHARE GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Energy (referred to in this 
section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish a grant program to be 
known as the ``Advanced Nuclear Energy Cost-Share Grant Program'' 
(referred to in this section as the ``program''), under which the 
Secretary shall make cost-share grants to applicants for the purpose of 
funding a portion of the Commission fees of the applicant for pre-
application and application review activities.
    (b) Requirement.--The Secretary shall seek out technology diversity 
in making grants under the program.
    (c) Cost-Share Amount.--The Secretary shall determine the cost-
share amount for each grant.
    (d) Use of Funds.--Recipients of grants under the program may use 
the grant funds to cover Commission fees, including those fees 
associated with--
            (1) developing a licensing project plan;
            (2) obtaining a statement of licensing feasibility;
            (3) reviewing topical reports; and
            (4) other pre-application and application review activities 
        and interactions with the Commission.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section such sums as 
are necessary.
                                 <all>