Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-4979
Sponsor: Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]
Introduced: 2016-04-18 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Executive agency funding and structure
Government liability
Licensing and registrations
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Nuclear power
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Radioactive wastes and releases
Technology transfer and commercialization
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: 

Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016

 
This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a memorandum of understanding to:
 
 
ensure that DOE has sufficient technical expertise to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative advanced reactor technology;
 
ensure that the NRC has sufficient technical expertise to support the evaluation of requests for regulatory approval for advanced reactors;
 
use computers and software codes to calculate the behavior and performance of advanced reactors based on mathematical models of their physical behavior; and
 
ensure that the DOE maintains and develops the facilities to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative reactor technology and ensuring that the NRC has access to such facilities, as needed. 
 
 
DOE must submit a report to Congress within 180 days evaluating activities intended to facilitate the testing and demonstration of advanced reactors on DOE land and facilities and the potential for DOE to test and demonstrate on private land. 
 
In addition, the NRC is required to develop a regulatory framework for licensing advanced nuclear reactors. 
 This bill amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to require that the aggregate amount of fees collected by the NRC from licensees and certificate holders in a fiscal year be decreased by the amount of appropriations for activities related to the development of regulatory infrastructure for advanced nuclear reactor technologies. 
 
 
 

action_date: 2016-09-12
text: 

Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 4)This bill requires the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a memorandum of understanding to:
 
 
ensure that DOE has sufficient technical expertise to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative advanced reactor technology;
 
ensure that the NRC has sufficient technical expertise to support the evaluation of requests for regulatory approval for advanced reactors;
 
use computers and software codes to calculate the behavior and performance of advanced reactors based on mathematical models of their physical behavior; and
 
ensure that the DOE maintains and develops the facilities to support the civilian nuclear industry's timely development and commercial deployment of safe, innovative reactor technology and that the NRC has access to such facilities, as needed. 
 
 
(Sec.5)DOE must submit a report to Congress within 180 days evaluating activities intended to facilitate the testing and demonstration of advanced reactors on DOE land and facilities and the potential for DOE to test and demonstrate on private land. The report must be updated and re-submitted to Congress every two years.Additionally, the report shall address certain issues including safety, cost, liability, facility siting, and options to regulate the advanced reactors.
 
(Sec.6)The NRC must develop a plan within one year to implement a regulatory framework for licensing advanced nuclear reactors. The plan shall include options to expedite and streamline the licensing process for advanced reactors, cost estimates, budgets, and specific milestones for implementing the framework by the end of FY2019. 
 (Sec.7) This bill also amends the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 to require that the aggregate amount of fees collected by the NRC from licensees and certificate holders in a fiscal year be decreased by the amount of appropriations for activities related to the development of regulatory infrastructure for advanced nuclear reactor technologies. 
 
 
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5305-5306)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5305-5306)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4979.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5305-5308)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Mr. Burgess moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 573.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology discharged.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-737, Part I.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 114-737, Part I.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-05-17
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-05-12
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2016-05-12
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-05-11
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-04-18
text: Introduced in House