National Strategy to Utilize Microreactors for Natural Disaster Response Efforts Act
Bill: H.R.8611 | Sponsor: Rep. Donalds, Byron (R-FL)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
National Strategy to Utilize Microreactors for Natural Disaster Response Efforts Act
This bill directs the President to develop a national strategy to utilize microreactors to assist with natural disaster response efforts. A microreactor is a nuclear reactor with at most 20 megawatts of thermal energy generating capacity.
Specifically, such strategy must include

To require the President develop a national strategy for utilizing 
microreactors to assist with natural disaster response efforts, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Strategy to Utilize 
Microreactors for Natural Disaster Response Efforts Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) natural disasters often cause loss of life, human 
        suffering, loss of income, and property loss and damage;
            (2) natural disasters often disrupt the normal functioning 
        of governments and communities and adversely affect individuals 
        and families with great severity; and
            (3) special measures, designed to assist with and 
        supplement natural disaster response efforts, such as replacing 
        the wide utilization of diesel generators with microreactors 
        when responding to the impacts of a natural disaster, are 
        necessary and worthwhile for the wellbeing of the United 
        States.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that Congress 
should support the utilization of nuclear energy, with a priority for 
nuclear energy generated by microreactors, during natural disaster 
response efforts because of the following considerations:
            (1) Nuclear energy generated by a microreactor provides a 
        safe form of consistent and reliable electricity that is 
        generally sought when responding to the impacts of natural 
        disasters.
            (2) Nuclear energy that is generated by microreactors--
                    (A) is the cleanest, rapidly deployable source of 
                energy available that can provide uninterrupted power 
                to assist with natural disaster response efforts; and
                    (B) can be used to augment diesel-generated power 
                during national disaster response efforts.
            (3) The generation of electricity from microreactors emits 
        fewer greenhouse gas emissions than the generation of 
        electricity from other sources of electricity.
            (4) Microreactors can be easily transported and carried by 
        aircraft, semi-trucks, or shipping vessels to timely provide 
        electricity upon demand to an area that is impacted by a 
        natural disaster.
            (5) Microreactors can be operated autonomously, which 
        avoids the need for on-site operators in an area that is 
        impacted by a natural disaster.
            (6) Microreactors can be operated for several years without 
        being refueled, which avoids logistical challenges associated 
        with refueling other power sources, including diesel 
        generators, in an area that is impacted by a natural disaster.
            (7) With approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
        microreactors can be--
                    (A) mass produced in factories around the United 
                States; and
                    (B) mass deployed to assist with natural disaster 
                response efforts.
            (8) Nuclear energy generated by a microreactor can be used 
        to help restore electrical grids by providing temporary power 
        and spot generation for critical electricity generating 
        facilities while grid repairs take place.
            (9) Microreactors can--
                    (A) power lifesaving and life-sustaining 
                facilities, such as hospitals;
                    (B) power mass transit systems and water quality 
                treatment plants;
                    (C) power large pumps that are often used to remove 
                water from an impacted area; and
                    (D) support the operation of local, State, and 
                Federal facilities in the event that a natural disaster 
                severely impacts such facilities and results in the 
                loss of electricity for such facilities.
            (10) After providing electricity to an area that is 
        impacted by a natural disaster, microreactors can be easily 
        transported out of the area to other locations where they are 
        needed or to standby storage locations until deployment to 
        assist with future natural disaster response efforts.

SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY.

    (a) In General.--The President shall, in consultation with the 
Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secretary 
of Energy, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Assistant 
Secretary of the Office of Nuclear Energy of the Department of Energy, 
the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the 
Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for the Office of Reactor Fleet and Advanced Reactor 
Deployment of the Department of Energy, develop a national strategy to 
utilize microreactors to assist with natural disaster response efforts.
    (b) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the President 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
comprehensive national strategy developed under subsection (a).
    (c) Contents of National Strategy.--A national strategy developed 
under subsection (a) shall include the following:
            (1) Evaluation of existing diesel deployment efforts.--An 
        assessment of the effectiveness of utilizing diesel generators 
        to assist with natural disaster response efforts, which such 
        assessment shall include--
                    (A) information on the current use of diesel 
                generators to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts, including--
                            (i) the prevalence of deploying diesel 
                        generators around the United States as the sole 
                        power source to assist with natural disaster 
                        response efforts;
                            (ii) the average number of diesel 
                        generators deployed in natural disaster 
                        response efforts based on the type of natural 
                        disaster, the severity of the natural disaster, 
                        and the location of the natural disaster;
                            (iii) where Federal, State, and local 
                        governments store diesel generators;
                            (iv) how diesel generators are transported 
                        to areas affected by a natural disaster;
                            (v) any logistical concerns with refueling 
                        diesel generators over an extended period of 
                        time;
                            (vi) the potential to utilize accessory 
                        equipment that is traditionally connected to 
                        diesel generators to help provide electricity 
                        to the area in need; and
                            (vii) any other information that is 
                        necessary to understand the role of diesel 
                        generators used to assist with natural disaster 
                        response efforts;
                    (B) how the effect on the environment of utilizing 
                diesel generators to assist with natural disaster 
                response efforts compares to the estimated effect on 
                the environment of utilizing microreactors to assist 
                with the same natural disaster response efforts; and
                    (C) the concerns to public safety when deploying 
                diesel generators in natural disaster response efforts.
            (2) Goals, objectives, and priorities.--A comprehensive, 
        research-based, and long-term discussion of goals, objectives, 
        and priorities for utilizing microreactors instead of diesel 
        generators to assist with natural disaster response efforts.
            (3) Department of defense analysis.--An analysis of--
                    (A) how the efforts of the Department of Defense to 
                develop microreactor technology for operational uses 
                could be used to inform the development of 
                microreactors to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts, including any recommendations and additional 
                direction that may be necessary for such expedited 
                deployment;
                    (B) how the Department of Defense can most 
                effectively translate and implement the lessons learned 
                from its operations in the field to assist with natural 
                disaster response efforts, including how operations in 
                the field related to microreactors can be used to 
                answer broad questions for the nuclear industry and for 
                future issues relating to fuel reliability, energy 
                supply chain issues, reducing diesel convoy 
                causalities, and supporting other global humanitarian 
                needs; and
                    (C) whether a demonstration program for 
                microreactors is needed prior to deploying 
                microreactors for natural disaster response efforts, 
                based on the analysis provided by subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B).
            (4) Recommendations for the nuclear regulatory 
        commission.--Recommendations on how the Nuclear Regulatory 
        Commission may expedite--
                    (A) the approval of designs for microreactors; and
                    (B) issuing licenses for the utilization, 
                transportation, and operation of microreactors in rapid 
                deployment scenarios, such as natural disaster response 
                efforts.
            (5) Utilizing feasibility studies.--An analysis of 
        available academic literature and studies, including site 
        feasibility studies, to identify high risk areas that are prone 
        to natural disasters that should be prioritized during 
        emergency planning.
            (6) Strategic considerations when deploying 
        microreactors.--An assessment of various strategic 
        considerations to improve the efficiency, timeliness, and cost-
        effectiveness of deploying microreactors to assist with natural 
        disaster response efforts, including--
                    (A) whether the Department of Defense, the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency, or any other government 
                entity should build, own, or operate microreactors that 
                are used to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts, including whether it would be viable to lease 
                microreactors from private industry and whether it 
                would be viable to facilitate public-private 
                partnerships to find cost effective options to utilize 
                microreactors for natural disaster response efforts;
                    (B) the recommended number of individuals charged 
                with the usage, maintenance, and upkeep of the 
                microreactors, including the recommended 
                qualifications, training requirements, availability 
                requirements, and oversight responsibility of such 
                individuals;
                    (C) the number of microreactors needed, initially 
                and in the long-term, to effectively respond to a 
                natural disaster based on past natural disaster trends 
                and the specific geographic location of the area;
                    (D) where microreactors used to assist with natural 
                disaster response efforts would be stored, including 
                information on--
                            (i) how different microreactor storage 
                        locations may affect swift and economically 
                        feasible natural disaster response efforts;
                            (ii) the feasibility of utilizing already-
                        built facilities instead of constructing new 
                        microreactor storage facilities;
                            (iii) the cost of constructing new 
                        microreactor storage facilities;
                            (iv) how to properly store the microreactor 
                        when not being utilized for natural disaster 
                        response efforts; and
                            (v) potential storage locations, such as--
                                    (I) the Strategic Alliance for FLEX 
                                Emergency Response locations in 
                                Memphis, Tennessee and Phoenix, 
                                Arizona; and
                                    (II) Department of Defense bases;
                    (E) how to maintain a microreactor and replace, 
                store, and dispose of fuel used by a microreactor, 
                including whether public-private partnerships may be 
                used to assist with such maintenance, replacement, 
                storage, and disposal;
                    (F) when a diesel generator will suffice in the 
                event of a natural disaster of limited proportions, in 
                comparison to utilizing microreactors to assist with 
                natural disaster response efforts;
                    (G) which States and territories and possessions of 
                the United States that are prone to natural disasters, 
                such as hurricanes, should be prioritized when 
                initially selecting locations to deploy microreactors 
                to assist with natural disaster response efforts;
                    (H) the methods, capabilities, and costs associated 
                with transporting microreactors to areas that were or 
                may be impacted by natural disasters;
                    (I) any other strategic considerations that should 
                be taken into account before deploying microreactors to 
                assist with natural disaster response efforts;
                    (J) how to integrate microreactors into existing 
                electrical grids in emergency situations, including how 
                grid connection points, microgrid limits, site load 
                limits, existing infrastructure, and the standard 
                process for grid interconnections may impact the 
                integration of microreactors into existing electrical 
                grid;
                    (K) whether microreactors will be susceptible to 
                cyberattacks, including whether autonomous control will 
                impact the microreactor's cyberattack susceptibility 
                and what systems or microreactor designs would be ideal 
                for combating such cyberattacks during a natural 
                disaster response effort; and
                    (L) how other uses of microreactors, such as 
                utilizing microreactors for various mining efforts, 
                could impact the other considerations in this 
                subsection.
            (7) Deployment challenges and barriers.--An assessment of--
                    (A) the challenges and barriers to deploying 
                microreactors to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts; and
                    (B) solutions to address each such challenge and 
                barrier.
            (8) Review of and recommendations for legislation.--
                    (A) Review.--A review of existing law that can be 
                used to ease the burden of utilizing microreactors to 
                assist with natural disaster response efforts, 
                including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
                Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the 
                Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801 et seq.), 
                the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), 
                the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (42 
                U.S.C. 2215 note), and any other relevant law.
                    (B) Recommendations.--Recommendations for 
                legislation to--
                            (i) assist with--
                                    (I) deploying microreactors to 
                                assist with natural disaster response 
                                efforts;
                                    (II) the maintenance and upkeep of 
                                such microreactors; and
                                    (III) the initial and long-term 
                                storage of such microreactors; and
                            (ii) pay for the activities described in 
                        subclauses (I) through (III) of clause (i).
            (9) Partnerships to enhance natural disaster response 
        efforts.--An assessment about--
                    (A) the current status of any collaboration between 
                the National Guard, Federal Emergency Management 
                Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers during natural 
                disaster response efforts;
                    (B) the specific roles of each entity specified in 
                subparagraph (A) (disaggregated, in the case of the 
                National Guard, by State and by military department) 
                during a natural disaster response effort, and their 
                respective roles when participating in natural disaster 
                response efforts;
                    (C) the current emergency responsibilities of the 
                Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory 
                Commission that relate to deploying microreactors 
                during natural disaster response efforts;
                    (D) the potential opportunity to set up an annual 
                listening group session or consortium to provide all 
                the necessary information needed to deploy 
                microreactors to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts and to ensure a smooth transition from the use 
                of diesel generators to the use of microreactors to 
                assist with natural disaster response efforts;
                    (E) how the Emergency Management Assistance 
                Compact, consented to by Congress in the joint 
                resolution entitled ``Joint resolution granting the 
                consent of Congress to the Emergency Management 
                Assistance Compact'' (Public Law 104-321), can be 
                utilized to allow States to allocate their unused 
                microreactors to other States that are in need of 
                microreactors to assist with natural disaster response 
                efforts; and
                    (F) how to improve the collaboration between 
                Federal, State, and local government entities and 
                private entities when deploying microreactors to assist 
                with natural disaster response efforts.
            (10) Utilizing microreactors to charge electric vehicles.--
        Recommendations on how to utilize microreactors as charging 
        stations for electric vehicles in the event of a mass 
        evacuation resulting from a natural disaster, including 
        recommendations on--
                    (A) how to deploy microreactors to charge electric 
                vehicles before an evacuation;
                    (B) the primary transportation corridors that would 
                be used for such a mass evacuation;
                    (C) how many microreactors would be needed to 
                charge electric vehicles during such a mass evacuation, 
                based on the size and population of the State in which 
                the mass evacuation occurs;
                    (D) the best placement of microreactors throughout 
                the primary transportation corridors to ensure a smooth 
                electric vehicle charging process and subsequent 
                evacuation;
                    (E) any potential public-private partnerships that 
                would be useful in utilizing microreactors to charge 
                electric vehicles during a mass evacuation, including 
                an estimate of the costs that would be associated with 
                establishing these partnerships;
                    (F) how to--
                            (i) transport microreactors to mass 
                        evacuation locations along primary 
                        transportation corridors for purposes of 
                        charging electric vehicles; and
                            (ii) pay for such transportation; and
                    (G) any other topic related to subparagraphs (A) 
                through (F).
            (11) Deploying microreactors to united states territories 
        and possessions.--Recommendations on deploying microreactors to 
        territories and possessions of the United States to assist with 
        natural disaster response efforts.
            (12) Using military equipment with nuclear capabilities.--
        Recommendations on how to, in the event of a natural disaster 
        and when the deployment of a microreactor is not timely or 
        ideal for the circumstance, deploy military equipment of the 
        United States with nuclear capabilities, such as nuclear 
        aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, to provide temporary 
        electricity to an area severely impacted by a natural disaster.
            (13) Budget priorities.--A multiyear budget plan that 
        identifies the necessary resources to successfully carry out 
        the recommendations and implement any lessons learned from the 
        assessments and other analysis under this subsection.
            (14) Technology enhancements.--An analysis of current and 
        developing ways to leverage existing and innovative technology 
        to improve the effectiveness of efforts to deploy microreactors 
        to assist with natural disaster response efforts.
            (15) Using innovative tools to predict natural disasters.--
        A description of how to utilize innovative technology, such as 
        artificial intelligence and predictive meteorological tools, to 
        prepare for the utilization of microreactors before a natural 
        disaster.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the 
                Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Oversight 
                and Reform, and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology of the House of Representatives; and
                    (B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
                Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
            (2) Local government.--The term ``local government'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 102 of the Robert T. 
        Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5122).
            (3) Microreactor.--The term ``microreactor'' means a 
        nuclear reactor, including a portable nuclear reactor, that has 
        an electricity generating capacity of not more than 20 
        megawatts of thermal energy.
            (4) 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), except that the term ``natural disaster'' 
        does not include a wildfire.
            (5) Natural disaster response effort.--The term ``natural 
        disaster response effort'' means a circumstance in which a 
        State or local government requests assistance under the Robert 
        T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 
        U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), including assistance to address the loss 
        of primary electrical capacity as a result of a natural 
        disaster.
            (6) State.--The term ``State'' means a State of the United 
        States and the District of Columbia.
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