I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1746 
To facilitate the efficient licensing and deployment of advanced civilian nuclear 
technologies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2021 
Mr. HUDSON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To facilitate the efficient licensing and deployment of 
advanced civilian nuclear 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 De-
ployment Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. ENABLING PREPARATIONS FOR ADVANCED NU-
CLEAR REACTOR DEMONSTRATIONS ON FED-
ERAL SITES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 102(b)(1)(B) of the Nu-
clear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 
U.S.C. 2215(b)(1)(B)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(v) Costs for— 
‘‘(I) activities to review and ap-
prove or disapprove an application for 
an early site permit (as defined in sec-
tion 52.1 of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regula-
tion)) to demonstrate an advanced nu-
clear reactor on a Department of En-
ergy or Department of Defense site; 
and 
‘‘(II) pre-application activities re-
lating to an early site permit (as so 
defined) to demonstrate an advanced 
nuclear reactor on a Department of 
Energy or Department of Defense 
site.’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 2021. 
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SEC. 3. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR MICRO-REAC-
TORS. 
(a) MICRO-REACTOR LICENSING.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (in this section referred to as the 
‘‘Commission’’) shall— 
(1) not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, develop risk-informed and 
performance-based strategies and guidance to license 
and regulate micro-reactors pursuant to section 103 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
2133), including strategies and guidance for— 
(A) staffing and operations; 
(B) oversight and inspections; 
(C) safeguards and security; 
(D) emergency preparedness; and 
(E) risk analysis methods, including alter-
natives to probabilistic risk assessments; 
(F) quality assurance, including the use of 
commercial nuclear quality standards in lieu of 
the requirements of Appendix B of part 50 of 
title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any 
successor regulation); 
(G) decommissioning funding assurance 
methods that permit the use of design- and site- 
specific cost estimates; 
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(H) the transportation of fueled micro-re-
actors; 
(I) an annual fee structure that accounts 
for the design and operational characteristics of 
micro-reactors; and 
(J) siting, including in relation to— 
(i) the per capita siting limit de-
scribed in the policy issue paper on popu-
lation-related siting considerations for ad-
vanced reactors dated May 8, 2020, and 
numbered SECY–20–0045; 
(ii) licensing mobile deployment; and 
(iii) environmental reviews; and 
(2) implement, as appropriate, the strategies 
and guidance developed under paragraph (1)— 
(A) within the existing regulatory frame-
work; 
(B) through the technology-inclusive, regu-
latory framework to be established under sec-
tion 103(a)(4) of the Nuclear Energy Innova-
tion and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2133 
note; Public Law 115–439); or 
(C) through a pending or new rulemaking. 
(b) REVIEW SCHEDULES.—The Commission shall es-
tablish and implement, by regulation, schedules that pro-
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vide target time periods for the completion of review activi-
ties applicable to the licensing of micro-reactors to ensure 
the completion of all such licensing actions by not later 
than the date that is 2 years after the date on which an 
application for such a license is accepted for docketing. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing and imple-
menting strategies and guidance under subsection (a), the 
Commission shall consider— 
(1) the unique characteristics of micro-reactors, 
such as characteristics relating to— 
(A) physical size; 
(B) design simplicity; and 
(C) source term; 
(2) opportunities to address redundancies and 
inefficiencies; 
(3) opportunities to consolidate review phases 
and reduce transitions between review teams; 
(4) opportunities to establish integrated review 
teams to ensure continuity throughout the review 
process; and 
(5) other relevant considerations discussed in 
the policy issue paper on policy and licensing consid-
erations related to micro-reactors dated October 6, 
2020, and numbered SECY–20–0093. 
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(d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Commission shall consult with— 
(1) the Secretary of Energy; 
(2) the heads of other Federal agencies, as ap-
propriate; 
(3) micro-reactor technology developers; and 
(4) other stakeholders. 
SEC. 4. EXPEDITED SUBSEQUENT COMBINED LICENSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with this section, 
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (referred to in this 
section as the ‘‘Commission’’) shall establish and carry out 
an expedited procedure for issuing a combined license pur-
suant to section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 
(42 U.S.C. 2133). 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—To qualify for the expedited 
procedure under subsection (a), an applicant— 
(1) shall submit a complete combined license 
application for a new nuclear reactor based off a 
previously licensed design; 
(2) shall construct the new nuclear reactor on 
or adjacent to a site on which an operating nuclear 
reactor already exists or previously operated; and 
(3) may not be subject to an order of the Com-
mission to modify, suspend, or revoke a license 
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under section 2.202 of title 10, Code of Federal 
Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(c) EXPEDITED PROCEDURE.—With respect to a 
combined license for which the applicant has satisfied the 
requirements described in subsection (b), the Commission 
shall— 
(1) not later than 1 year after the application 
is accepted for docketing— 
(A) carry out an expedited environmental 
review process; and 
(B) issue a draft environmental impact 
statement; 
(2) not later than 18 months after the applica-
tion is accepted for docketing— 
(A) complete the technical review process; 
and 
(B) issue a safety evaluation report and 
final environmental impact statement; 
(3) not later than 2 years after the application 
is accepted for docketing, complete any necessary 
public licensing hearings and related processes; and 
(4) not later than 25 months after the applica-
tion is accepted for docketing, make a final decision 
on whether to issue the combined license. 
(d) PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING.— 
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(1) GOALS.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall submit to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environ-
ment and Public Works of the Senate recommenda-
tions for procedures that would further facilitate the 
expedited licensing of new nuclear reactors. 
(2) DELAYS IN ISSUANCE.—Not later than 30 
days after the applicable deadline, the Executive Di-
rector for Operations of the Commission shall inform 
the Commission of any failure to meet a deadline 
under subsection (c). 
(3) DELAYS
IN
ISSUANCE
EXCEEDING
DAYS.—If any deadline under subsection (c) is not 
met by the date that is 90 days after the applicable 
date required under such subsection, the Commis-
sion shall submit to the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep-
resentatives a timely report describing the delay, in-
cluding a detailed explanation accounting for the 
delay and a plan for timely completion of the appli-
cable action. 
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SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM FOR NUCLEAR POWER PURCHASE 
AGREEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle B of title VI of the En-
ergy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 Stat. 
782) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 
640. 
LONG-TERM 
NUCLEAR 
POWER 
PURCHASE 
AGREEMENT PILOT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 2026, the 
Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the 
Secretary shall enter into long-term power purchase agree-
ments for power generated by commercial nuclear reac-
tors. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In establishing the pilot pro-
gram under this section, the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) consult with the heads of other Federal de-
partments and agencies that may benefit from pur-
chasing nuclear power for a period of longer than 10 
years, including the Secretary of Defense; and 
‘‘(2) not later than December 31, 2026, enter 
into at least 1 agreement to purchase power from a 
commercial nuclear reactor that receives a license 
from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after Jan-
uary 1, 2022. 
‘‘(c) PERIOD OF AGREEMENT.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, an agreement entered into pursuant 
to subsection (b)(2) to purchase power from a commercial 
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nuclear reactor shall be made for a period of at least 10 
years and not more than 40 years. 
‘‘(d) PRIORITY.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall prioritize entering into long-term power 
purchase agreements for power generated by first-of-a- 
kind or early deployment commercial nuclear reactors that 
will provide reliable and resilient power— 
‘‘(1) to high-value assets for national security 
purposes; or 
‘‘(2) for other purposes that the Secretary de-
termines are in the national interest, including for 
remote off-grid scenarios or grid-connected scenarios 
that provide capabilities commonly known as 
‘islanding power capabilities’ during an emergency. 
‘‘(e) RATES.—A long-term power purchase agreement 
entered into under this section may not be at a rate that 
is higher than the average market rate, unless the agree-
ment is for power generated by a commercial nuclear reac-
tor described in subsection (d).’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109–58; 119 
Stat. 594) is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 639 the following: 
‘‘Sec. 640. Long-term nuclear power purchase agreement pilot program.’’. 
Æ 
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