SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Provide Logistical Aid 
to airports via advanced Nuclear Energy Act’’ or the 
‘‘PLANE Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Airports generally have diesel generators on 
site as a backup power source in the event a natural 
disaster disrupts the primary power source of the 
airport. 
(2) Backup diesel generators are subject to po-
tential fuel supply chain disruptions, especially in 
the event of a natural disaster, which may negatively 
impact public safety and may severely disrupt the 
airport’s operating procedures if the backup diesel 
generators aren’t available during a primary power 
source disruption event. 
(3) Generally speaking, airports store enough 
diesel fuel on-site to power their backup diesel gen-
erators for approximately 72 hours after the primary 
power source disruption event occurs. 
(4) Electricity is fundamental to aviation oper-
ations and the operation of many essential systems, 
equipment, technology, and tools of the airport, 
therefore maintaining a sufficient backup power ca-
pacity should be a priority. 
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(5) Back-up power sources, such as diesel gen-
erators or microreactors, are critical to an airport’s 
operational continuity and may drive key airport 
functions in the event of a primary power source dis-
ruption event stemming from a natural disaster, in-
cluding lights critical to illuminating runways, all 
electronics within the airport, airplane refueling sta-
tions, ticketing, signage, security checkpoints, retail 
and commercial concessions, and elevators and esca-
lators. 
(6) Microreactors have the inherent benefit of 
avoiding diesel-related supply chain constraints, and 
have the potential to provide consistent, reliable, and 
clean electricity to power the airport during a pri-
mary power source disruption event. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) Federal Aviation Administration-certified 
airports should consider utilizing microreactors as 
an alternative to diesel backup generators in the 
event of a primary power source disruption; 
(2) the Federal Government should initiate dis-
cussions to deploy microreactors to respond to a pri-
mary power source disruption event stemming from 
a natural disaster; and 
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(3) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should 
collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration 
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 
consider expedited licensing of microreactors to de-
ploy in the event of primary power source disrup-
tion. 
SEC. 4. MICROREACTOR DEPLOYMENT AT AIRPORTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 270 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Nu-
clear Regulatory Commission, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Sec-
retary of Energy, or the designees thereof, shall collabo-
rate to establish procedures to, as soon as practicable, de-
ploy microreactors at airports to respond to a primary 
power source disruption event stemming from a natural 
disaster. 
(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing procedures 
under subsection (a), the Chairman of the Nuclear Regu-
latory Commission, the Administrator of the Federal Avia-
tion Administration, the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, and the Secretary of 
Energy shall consider, if the Chairman, Administrators, 
and Secretary determine appropriate— 
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(1) expediting the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion licensing process associated with deploying 
microreactors in the event of a natural disaster; 
(2) pre-deployment strategies of microreactors, 
including— 
(A) where airports currently store backup 
diesel generators and an overview of the proc-
ess, including pros and cons, of utilizing backup 
diesel generators; 
(B) the inherent benefits of utilizing micro-
reactors instead of a backup diesel generator 
and when a backup diesel generator will suffice; 
(C) how a microreactor would be trans-
ported to an airport and transportation-related 
processes associated with deploying the micro-
reactor via plane, boat, rail, or truck, depending 
on the location of the airport; 
(D) any associated environmental consider-
ations that would have to be alleviated to do so; 
(E) how to integrate microreactors into ex-
isting electrical grids in primary power source 
disruption events, including grid connection 
points, site load limits, and existing infrastruc-
ture; and 
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(F) the timeliness of deploying the micro-
reactor, including— 
(i) how long it would take to deploy 
the microreactor; 
(ii) how long it would take to set up 
the microreactor to get the microreactor 
operational; and 
(iii) how long it would take to dis-
connect the microreactor after the oper-
ational use; 
(3) deployment strategies of microreactors, in-
cluding— 
(A) operating the microreactor in the de-
ployment event, including considerations relat-
ing to— 
(i) personnel and labor and any asso-
ciated training; and 
(ii) qualifications and considerations 
for who should be responsible for oversight 
of such personnel described in clause (i) 
and the deployment of the microreactor; 
(B) whether the operation of a micro-
reactor would inhibit normal airport operations, 
in the event of a primary power source distribu-
tion, in comparison to a diesel generator; and 
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(C) what facilities the microreactor would 
provide electricity to; 
(4) post-deployment strategies of microreactors, 
including potential public-private partnerships that 
could be used to assist with maintenance, replace-
ment, storage, and disposal; and 
(5) other considerations, including— 
(A) what entity would own the micro-
reactor and any contractual agreements or 
leases necessary for the operation of the reac-
tor, including potential contracts with local util-
ities, the armed forces, or industry stakeholders 
to deliver the microreactor when necessary; 
(B) how the Nuclear Regulatory Commis-
sion can leverage ongoing and existing licensing 
procedures to maximize the effectiveness and ef-
ficiency of establishing procedures to deploy 
microreactors at airports; and 
(C) any other considerations that would be 
necessary to carry out the objective of this Act. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after a deter-
mination on appropriateness of the considerations de-
scribed in subsection (b) is made, the Chairman of the 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Administrator of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator of the 
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Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Sec-
retary of Energy shall submit to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, the Committee on Transportation and In-
frastructure, and the Committee on Homeland Security of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Envi-
ronment and Public Works of the Senate a report out-
lining the reasoning, findings, and any recommended pro-
cedures found in making such considerations. 
(d) FAA GUIDANCE UPDATE.—Not later than 180 
days after the procedures under subsection (b) are final-
ized, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Adminis-
tration shall update guidance from the Administration to 
consider the use of microreactors in airport emergency 
plans. 
(e) AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN UPDATE.—Not later 
than 270 days after the procedures under subsection (b) 
are finalized, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
Administration shall issue such regulations as are nec-
essary to update section 139.325 of title 14, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations, to encourage certified airports to con-
sider utilizing microreactors to provide backup power in 
the case of a primary power source disruption event as 
a result of an incident under subsection (b) of such sec-
tion. 
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(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) MICROREACTOR.—The term ‘‘microreactor’’ 
means an advanced nuclear reactor (as such term is 
defined in section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innova-
tion and Modernization Act (42 U.S.C. 2215 note)), 
including a portable nuclear reactor, that has an 
electricity generating capacity of not more than 20 
megawatts of electricity and not more than 100 
megawatts of thermal energy. 
(2) NATURAL DISASTER.—The term ‘‘natural 
disaster’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘major 
disaster’’ in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
U.S.C. 5122). 
Æ 
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