HR 4979 RFS
defined by section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act 
of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101); 
(6) the impact on the Nation’s aggregate inven-
tory of low-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear 
fuel, or high-level radioactive waste; 
(7) potential cost structures relating to physical 
security, decommissioning, liability, and other long- 
term project costs; and 
(8) other challenges or considerations identified 
by the Secretary. 
(c) UPDATES.—The Secretary shall update relevant 
provisions of the report submitted under subsection (a) 
every 2 years and submit that update to the Committee 
on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public Works and 
the Committee Energy and Natural Resources of the Sen-
ate. 
SEC. 6. ADVANCED REACTOR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the NRC shall transmit 
to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works of the Senate a plan for developing an 
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efficient, risk-informed, technology-neutral framework for 
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 licensing decision and minimize the 
delays that may result from any necessary amend-
ments or supplements 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. 
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(5) Options to make the advanced reactor li-
censing framework more predictable. This evaluation 
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. 
(9) Options to provide cost-sharing financial 
structures for license applicants in a phased licens-
ing process. 
(b) COORDINATION AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT RE-
QUIRED.—In developing the plan required by subsection 
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(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-
mates, budgets, and specific milestones for implementing 
the advanced reactor regulatory framework by September 
30, 2019. 
(d) DESIGN CERTIFICATION STATUS.—In the NRC’s 
first budget request after the acceptance of any design cer-
tification application for an advanced nuclear reactor, and 
annually thereafter, the NRC shall provide the status of 
performance metrics and milestone schedules. The budget 
request shall include a plan to correct or recover from any 
milestone schedule delays, including delays because of 
NRC’s inability to commit resources for its review of the 
design certification applications. 
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: 
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‘‘(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.’’. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 12, 
2016. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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