Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6613
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-03T08:07:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025 aims to improve oversight and community involvement in the decommissioning (permanent shutdown and cleanup) of nuclear power plants. It requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC, the federal agency that regulates nuclear facilities) to consult with state, tribal, and local governments before approving plans for decommissioning activities. The bill also provides financial support to affected communities to address economic and social impacts from plant closures and stored nuclear waste.
Key Provisions
- Consultation and Approval Process for Decommissioning Plans (Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Reports, or PSDARs):
- Defines key terms, such as "covered facility" (a nuclear plant requiring a PSDAR), "affected state" (the host state and nearby states within 50 miles), and "covered material" (high-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, and similar hazardous substances).
- Requires nuclear plant operators (licensees) to consult with affected states, tribal governments, and local units of government within 50 miles before submitting a PSDAR or transferring a plant license to another entity.
- Mandates public availability of PSDARs (with redactions for trade secrets or national security) and a minimum 90-day public comment period, including at least two public meetings in the host state.
- Allows the host state to submit a statement of support, conditional support (with recommended changes), or nonsupport within 60 days.
- NRC must approve PSDARs or license transfers within one year if they protect public health, safety, and the environment; demonstrate funding availability; and comply with laws. If the host state offers conditional support, NRC must incorporate recommended changes unless they violate laws or costs outweigh benefits.
- Rejections allow resubmission, with a two-year deadline for initial PSDARs after plant shutdown.
- Ensures compliance with stricter state environmental laws on air, water, soil, or radiation standards.
- Applies to ongoing decommissioning if cleanup has not started or has been underway for less than five years, allowing revisions.
- Grant Programs for Community Advisory Boards (Section 3):
- Establishes short-term (three years post-enactment) and long-term grants to states and tribes hosting decommissioning plants.
- Funds support local advisory boards that facilitate communication between plant operators and communities, covering expert hires, travel, reports, and administrative costs.
- Short-term program: $12.5 million authorized for fiscal years 2026–2028, prioritizing geographic diversity and no cost-sharing for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities (populations under 50,000 or facing socioeconomic/environmental challenges).
- Long-term program: Funded by a "Community Advisory Board Fund" in the U.S. Treasury, financed by $500,000 fees per plant or unit from licensees submitting PSDARs (no double fees if no new consultation needed; cannot use decommissioning trust funds for merchant plants).
- Follows best practices from a prior congressional report on advisory boards.
- Assistance for Nuclear Host Communities (Section 4):
- Amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to extend funding authorization to 2034 and expand activities to include capacity building and economic resilience.
- Provides 100% federal funding (no local matching required) for grants to small, rural, or disadvantaged nuclear host communities (local areas near plants).
- Financial Assistance for Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste (Section 5):
- Creates a noncompetitive grant program by the Department of Energy for local governments hosting decommissioned or decommissioning plants with "stranded nuclear waste" (spent fuel stored on-site in casks or pools).
- Grants: $15 per kilogram of spent fuel, limited to one per local government per fiscal year.
- Authorizes necessary funding for 2026–2035, without offsetting other federal programs.
- Economic Development in Host Communities (Section 6):
- Establishes "host community economic recovery accounts" in the U.S. Treasury for each decommissioning plant, managed by the Department of Commerce.
- Funded by annual transfers from plant decommissioning trusts (or financial assurances) to maintain at least 2% of the trust balance in the account.
- Grants from accounts support economic planning and strategies in host states, tribes, or local areas; no cost-sharing for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities.
- For plants already decommissioning, initial 2% transfer within one year; grants start within one year of enactment.
- Requires NRC to update regulations to ensure trusts remain sufficient for cleanup without depleting funds needed here.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 by adding a new Section 113, mandating pre-submission consultations and host state input in NRC approvals—previously, NRC had more unilateral authority over PSDARs without formal state veto or conditional support mechanisms.
- Introduces timelines (e.g., one-year NRC decisions, 90-day public comments) and rejection/resubmission processes not explicitly required before.
- Adds fee-based funding for community boards via PSDAR submissions, pulling from licensee resources.
- Expands the Public Works and Economic Development Act to prioritize nuclear hosts with full federal funding and longer authorizations.
- Creates new grant programs (Sections 5 and 6) for waste impacts and economic recovery, funded directly from decommissioning trusts, which shifts some financial burden from operators to community support without prior equivalents.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: NRC faces increased workload with consultations, public meetings, and stricter timelines (possible extensions for unforeseen issues); may lead to delays in approvals. Department of Energy and Commerce gain new grant administration roles. Overall, promotes coordinated federal-state-tribal decision-making.
- Citizens and Communities: Enhances public and local input, potentially improving safety and environmental protections during cleanup. Provides millions in grants for economic recovery, advisory boards, and waste mitigation, benefiting host areas (especially small/rural ones) through job planning, resilience programs, and offset for lost plant revenue/taxes. Could reduce economic hardship from plant closures but might slow decommissioning if disputes arise.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as it focuses on domestic civilian nuclear plants; no provisions affecting exports, treaties, or foreign waste.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Nuclear Licensees/Operators: Must conduct consultations, pay fees, and transfer funds from trusts; face potential plan revisions or delays.
- State, Tribal, and Local Governments: Gain formal consultation rights, ability to influence approvals, and access to grants for advisory boards and economic development.
- Host Communities and Residents: Particularly small, rural, or disadvantaged areas near plants, who benefit from financial aid, public participation, and waste-related support.
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): Primary regulator, responsible for implementing processes, approvals, and rule changes.
- Federal Agencies: Department of Energy (waste grants), Department of Commerce (economic accounts), and Treasury (fund management).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal preemption limits by requiring NRC deference to stricter state environmental laws, potentially leading to more litigation if approvals conflict with state input. PSDAR decisions become final orders under existing NRC appeal processes (Section 189a of Atomic Energy Act). Ensures compliance with administrative procedures like public notice and comment.
- Constitutional: Aligns with federalism principles by involving states and tribes in federal nuclear regulation, respecting their jurisdiction over local lands and environmental standards without granting veto power. Supports equal protection for disadvantaged communities via targeted funding.
- Political: Encourages bipartisan support for nuclear energy transitions by addressing community concerns over safety and economics, amid growing plant retirements. Could politicize NRC decisions with state statements, but neutrality is maintained through evidence-based criteria (e.g., health/safety, funding adequacy). May influence future nuclear policy by tying decommissioning to community benefits, reducing opposition to new plants.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-12: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-12-11: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Financial Services, 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.
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-11 — PDF (46 pages)