Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-2326
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
Introduced: 2014-05-13
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Government information and archives

Licensing and registrations

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Nuclear power

Public participation and lobbying

Radioactive wastes and releases

State and local government operations
Latest action: action_date: 2014-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-05-13
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014 - Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensee, after consulting each affected state and local governments, to develop and submit to the NRC a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report (PSDAR) for any of the licensee's shutdown facilities for which a PSDAR is required.</p> <p>Requires the NRC to: (1) solicit written comments on the proposed PSDAR from the public and conduct at least two public hearings in the facility's host state; and (2) invite the host state to file a statement of support, of conditional support with specific recommendations for changes, or of nonsupport for the proposed PSDAR.</p> <p>Directs the NRC, after receiving the state's statement of support or nonsupport, to determine whether the proposed PSDAR is adequate or inadequate on the basis of specified considerations, and issue a decision of approval or disapproval, as appropriate.</p> <p>Prescribes requirements for determining whether a proposed PSDAR is permissible if the host state files a statement of conditional support.</p> <p>Requires a licensee to develop and submit a new proposed PSDAR if the first one is rejected.</p> <p>Prohibits the NRC from approving a proposed PSDAR unless it includes a requirement that the licensee comply with state law relating to air, water, or soil quality or radiological standards if they are more restrictive than federal law.</p> </p>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2326 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 13, 2014 Mr. Sanders (for himself, Mrs. Boxer , and Mr. Markey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to provide for consultation with State and local governments, the consideration of State and local concerns, and the approval of post-shutdown decommissioning activities reports by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2014 . 2. Post-shutdown decommissioning activities reports Chapter 10 of title I of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 ( 42 U.S.C. 2131 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 113. Post-shutdown decommissioning activities reports (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Affected State The term affected State means— (A) the host State of a covered facility; and (B) each State that is within 50 miles of a covered facility. (2) Commission The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (3) Covered facility The term covered facility means a facility of a licensee for which a PSDAR is required. (4) Host State The term host State means the State in which a covered facility is located. (5) Licensee The term licensee has the meaning given the term in section 50.2 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). (6) PSDAR The term PSDAR means a post-shutdown decommissioning activities report submitted to the Commission and affected States under section 50.82(a)(4)(i) of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). (b) Development; initial consultation A licensee shall develop a proposed PSDAR for a covered facility after consultation with— (1) each affected State; and (2) each unit of local government and tribal government in the affected State that is located within 50 miles of the covered facility. (c) Submission to Commission; additional consultation (1) In general After additional consultation with the entities described in subsection (b) with respect to the proposed PSDAR developed under that subsection, the licensee shall— (A) submit to the Commission the proposed PSDAR; and (B) on submission of the proposed PSDAR under subparagraph (A), make the proposed PSDAR readily available to the public. (2) Public availability On receipt of the proposed PSDAR under paragraph (1), the Commission shall make the proposed PSDAR readily available to the public. (d) Public participation During a period of at least 90 days beginning on the date on which the licensee submits the proposed PSDAR to the Commission under subsection (c), the Commission shall solicit public participation on the proposed PSDAR in the host State, including through— (1) the solicitation of written comments from the public; and (2) the conduct of at least 2 public hearings within the host State. (e) Support or nonsupport by host State (1) In general Not later than 60 days after the receipt of a proposed PSDAR for a covered facility, the Commission shall invite the host State to file with the Commission, by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the host State receives the invitation under this paragraph— (A) a statement of support for the proposed PSDAR; (B) a statement of conditional support for the proposed PSDAR, with specific recommendations for changes that could lead the host State to support the proposed PSDAR; or (C) a statement of nonsupport for the proposed PSDAR. (2) Statement of support or nonsupport; failure to submit (A) In general If the host State files a statement of support under paragraph (1)(A), a statement of nonsupport under paragraph (1)(C), or fails to file a statement with the Commission by the deadline specified in paragraph (1), the Commission shall issue a determination on whether the proposed PSDAR is adequate or inadequate— (i) based on the considerations described in subparagraph (B); and (ii) after taking into account— (I) any written comments submitted by the host State, other States, and local communities with respect to the proposed PSDAR; and (II) any input from the public under subsection (d). (B) Considerations The Commission shall consider a proposed PSDAR to be adequate under subparagraph (A) if the Commission determines that— (i) the proposed PSDAR provides for the overall protection of human health and the environment; (ii) the licensee has a substantial likelihood of implementing the proposed PSDAR within the timeframe described in the proposed PSDAR; (iii) the proposed PSDAR is in accordance with applicable law (including regulations); and (iv) the licensee has proactively demonstrated that the licensee has, or will have, the funds required to fully implement the proposed PSDAR within the timeframe described in the proposed PSDAR. (C) Determination of adequacy If the Commission determines that the proposed PSDAR is adequate under subparagraph (A), the Commission shall issue a decision document approving the PSDAR. (D) Determination of inadequacy If the Commission determines that the proposed PSDAR is inadequate under subparagraph (A)— (i) the Commission shall issue a decision rejecting the proposed PSDAR, including the reasons for the decision; and (ii) the licensee shall develop and submit to the Commission a new proposed PSDAR in accordance with this section. (3) Conditional support by host State (A) In general The Commission shall determine whether the proposed PSDAR is permissible under applicable law (including regulations) if the host State files a statement of conditional support for the proposed PSDAR with the Commission in accordance with paragraph (1)(B). (B) Changes For each change recommended by the host State under paragraph (1)(B), the Commission shall— (i) provide for the inclusion of the change into the final PSDAR, unless the Commission determines the change to be inappropriate for inclusion, based on clear and convincing evidence provided by the licensee that— (I) the change violates applicable law; or (II) the costs of the change substantially outweigh the safety, economic, or environmental benefits of the change to the host State; and (ii) provide the rationale for a determination of inappropriateness under clause (i). (C) Decision document (i) In general Based on the determinations made under subparagraphs (A) and (B), the Commission shall issue a decision document that— (I) accepts the proposed PSDAR with any changes recommended by the host State that are not determined to be inappropriate under subparagraph (B); or (II) rejects the proposed PSDAR. (ii) Applicable law A decision document issued under clause (i) shall be considered to be a final order entered in a proceeding under section 189(a). (D) Acceptance If the Commission approves the proposed PSDAR under subparagraph (C)(i)(I)— (i) the PSDAR is final; and (ii) the licensee may begin implementation of the PSDAR. (E) Rejection If the Commission rejects the proposed PSDAR under subparagraph (C)(i)(II), the licensee shall develop and submit to the Commission a new proposed PSDAR in accordance with this section. (f) Additional requirement Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a Commission shall not approve a PSDAR under this section unless the proposed PSDAR includes a requirement that the licensee comply with applicable State law relating to air, water, or soil quality or radiological standards with respect to the implementation of the proposed PSDAR if the applicable State law is more restrictive than the applicable Federal law. .