I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4979 
To foster civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy tech-
nologies and enhance the licensing and commercial deployment of such 
technologies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 18, 2016 
Mr. LATTA (for himself and Mr. MCNERNEY) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To foster civilian research and development of advanced nu-
clear energy technologies and enhance the licensing and 
commercial deployment of such technologies. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Advanced Nuclear 
Technology Development Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Nuclear energy generates approximately 20 
percent of the total electricity and approximately 60 
percent of the carbon-free electricity of the United 
States. 
(2) Nuclear power plants operate consistently at 
a 90 percent capacity factor, and provide consumers 
and businesses with reliable and affordable elec-
tricity. 
(3) Nuclear power plants generate billions of 
dollars in national economic activity through nation-
wide procurements and provide thousands of Ameri-
cans with high paying jobs contributing substantially 
to the local economies in communities where they 
operate. 
(4) The United States commercial nuclear in-
dustry must continue to lead the international civil-
ian nuclear marketplace, because it is one of our 
most powerful national security tools, guaranteeing 
the safe, secure, and exclusively peaceful use of nu-
clear energy. 
(5) Maintaining the Nation’s nuclear fleet of 
commercial light water reactors and expanding the 
use of new advanced reactor designs would support 
continued production of reliable baseload electricity 
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and maintain United States global leadership in nu-
clear power. 
(6) The development of advanced reactor de-
signs would benefit from a performance-based, risk- 
informed, efficient, and cost-effective regulatory 
framework with defined milestones and the oppor-
tunity for applicants to demonstrate progress 
through Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVANCED REACTOR.—The term ‘‘advanced 
reactor’’ means a nuclear fission reactor with signifi-
cant design improvements over the most recent gen-
eration of nuclear reactors. Such improvements may 
include inherent safety features, lower waste yields, 
greater fuel utilization, superior reliability, resist-
ance to proliferation, and increased thermal effi-
ciency. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(3) LICENSING.—The term ‘‘licensing’’ means 
NRC activities related to reviewing applications for 
licenses, permits, and design certifications, and re-
quests for any other regulatory approval for nuclear 
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reactors within the responsibilities of the NRC under 
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. 
(4) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(5) NRC.—The term ‘‘NRC’’ means the Nu-
clear Regulatory Commission. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 4. AGENCY COORDINATION. 
The NRC and the Department shall enter into the 
a memorandum of understanding regarding the following 
topics: 
(1) TECHNICAL
EXPERTISE.—Ensuring that 
the Department has sufficient technical expertise to 
support the civilian nuclear industry’s timely devel-
opment and commercial deployment of safe, innova-
tive advanced reactor technology and the NRC has 
sufficient technical expertise to support the evalua-
tion of applications for licenses, permits, and design 
certifications, and other requests for regulatory ap-
proval for advanced reactors. 
(2) MODELING AND SIMULATION.—The use of 
computers and software codes to calculate the behav-
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ior and performance of advanced reactors based on 
mathematical models of their physical behavior. 
(3) FACILITIES.—Ensuring that the Depart-
ment maintains and develops the facilities to support 
the civilian nuclear industry’s timely development 
and commercial deployment of safe, innovative reac-
tor technology and ensuring that the NRC has ac-
cess to such facilities, as needed. 
SEC. 5. REPORTING TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report that evaluates the status of activities 
intended to facilitate the testing and demonstration of ad-
vanced reactors on Department land and facilities and the 
potential for the Department to use testing and dem-
onstration on private land. 
SEC. 6. ADVANCED REACTOR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 270 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the NRC shall transmit 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works of the Senate a plan for developing an 
efficient, risk-informed, technology-neutral framework for 
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advanced reactor licensing. The plan shall evaluate the fol-
lowing subjects, consistent with the NRC’s role in pro-
tecting public health and safety and common defense and 
security: 
(1) The unique aspects of advanced reactor li-
censing and any associated legal, regulatory, and 
policy issues the NRC will need to address to de-
velop a framework for licensing advanced reactors. 
(2) Options for licensing advanced reactors 
under existing NRC regulations in title 10 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, a proposed new regu-
latory framework, or a combination of these ap-
proaches. 
(3) Options to expedite and streamline the li-
censing of advanced reactors, including opportunities 
to minimize the time from application submittal to 
final NRC approval and minimize the delays that 
may result from any necessary amendments or sup-
plements to applications. 
(4) Options to expand the incorporation of con-
sensus-based codes and standards into the advanced 
reactor regulatory framework to minimize time to 
completion and provide flexibility in implementation. 
(5) Options to make the advanced reactor li-
censing framework more predictable. This evaluation 
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should consider opportunities to improve the process 
by which application review milestones are estab-
lished and maintained. 
(6) Options to allow applicants to use phased 
review processes under which the NRC issues ap-
provals that do not require the NRC to re-review 
previously approved information. This evaluation 
shall consider the NRC’s ability to review and condi-
tionally approve partial applications, early design in-
formation, and submittals that contain design cri-
teria and processes to be used to develop information 
to support a later phase of the design review. 
(7) The extent to which NRC action or modi-
fication of policy is needed to implement any part of 
the plan required by this subsection. 
(8) The role of licensing advanced reactors 
within NRC long-term strategic resource planning, 
staffing, and funding levels. 
(b) COORDINATION AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT RE-
QUIRED.—In developing the plan required by subsection 
(a), the NRC shall seek input from the Department, the 
nuclear industry, and other public stakeholders. 
(c) COST AND SCHEDULE ESTIMATE.—The plan re-
quired by subsection (a) shall include proposed cost esti-
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mates, budgets, and specific milestones for implementing 
the advanced reactor regulatory framework by 2019. 
SEC. 7. USER FEES AND ANNUAL CHARGES. 
Section 6101(c)(2)(A) of the Omnibus Budget Rec-
onciliation Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 2214(c)(2)(A)) is 
amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (iii); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of clause 
(iv) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(v) for fiscal years ending before Oc-
tober 1, 2020, amounts appropriated to 
the Commission for activities related to the 
development of regulatory infrastructure 
for 
advanced 
nuclear 
reactor 
tech-
nologies.’’. 
Æ 
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