S. 1757

119 S1757 IS: Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
 U.S. Senate
 2025-05-14
 text/xml
 EN
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  II
  119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
  S. 1757
  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
  May 14, 2025
  Mr. Scott of South Carolina  (for himself
  and  Mr. Coons ) introduced the following bill;
  which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Environment and Public Works
  A BILL
To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for more efficient
  hearings on nuclear facility construction applications, and for other
  purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act  .
2.
Updating hearing procedures
(a)
Hearings and judicial review
Section 189 a. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2239(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
in the first sentence, by striking  In any proceeding under this Act  and inserting the following:
(i)
In any proceeding under this Act
  ; and
(ii)
in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking  The Commission shall hold a hearing  and all that follows through  upon a determination by the Commission that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.  and inserting the following:
(ii)
The Commission may, in the absence of a request for a hearing by any person whose interest may be affected, issue a construction permit, an operating license, a combined construction permit and operating license, an amendment to a construction permit, an amendment to an operating license, or an amendment to a combined construction permit and operating license under section 103, 104 b., 104 c., or 185 b. for a facility or a testing facility, without a hearing, but upon thirty days notice and publication once in the Federal Register of its intent to do so. The Commission may dispense with such thirty days notice and publication with respect to any application for an amendment to a construction permit, an amendment to an operating license, or an amendment to a combined construction permit and operating license upon a determination by the Commission that the amendment involves no significant hazards consideration.
(iii)
The Commission shall use informal adjudicatory procedures for any hearing held by the Commission pursuant to this subparagraph.
  ;
(B)
in subparagraph (B)(iv)—
(i)
by inserting  informal  before  hearing procedures ; and
(ii)
by striking  , whether informal or formal adjudicatory, ; and
(2)
in paragraph (2)(A), in the second sentence, by striking  required hearing  and inserting  hearing held by the Commission under this section .
(b)
Construction permits and operating licenses
Section 185 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2235(b) ) is amended by striking  After holding a public hearing under section 189 a. (1)(A),  and inserting  After the thirty days notice and publication period or holding a hearing, as applicable, under section 189 a. (1)(A), .
(c)
Licensing of uranium enrichment facilities
Section 193(b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2243(b) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1)—
(A)
by striking  on the record ; and
(B)
by inserting  if a person whose interest may be affected by such construction and operation has requested a hearing regarding the licensing of the construction and operation of the facility  after  and 63 ; and
(2)
in paragraph (2), by striking  Such hearing  and inserting  If a hearing is held under paragraph (1), the hearing .
(d)
Applicability
The amendments made by this section shall apply to all applications and proceedings pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on or after the date of enactment of this section.