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HR 6613

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Becca Balint

Strengthens community involvement and grants funding for host communities and stranded nuclear waste by requiring NRC approval, public participation, and new funding mechanisms dur

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
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Bill Summary · HR 6613

Overview

H.R. 6613, the Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025, proposes to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to strengthen state, Tribal, and local government involvement in decommissioning decisions, require NRC approval for certain post-shutdown activities, and expand community-focused funding and support related to decommissioning and stranded nuclear waste. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Becca Balint (with a co-sponsor) and introduces new consultation, public participation, grant programs, and economic development mechanisms.

Main purpose and intent

  • Improve consultation and consideration of State, Tribal, and local concerns in post-shutdown decommissioning activities.
  • Require NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) approval for post-shutdown decommissioning activities reports (PSDAR) and for certain license transfers.
  • Establish funding and grant programs to support host communities and to assist with stranded nuclear waste.
  • Provide economic development tools for host communities transitioning away from active nuclear operations.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 113. Post-Shutdown Decommissioning Activities Reports

    • Defines terms (affected State, covered facility/material/PSDAR, host state, etc.).
    • Mandates consultation with affected States and local/Tribal governments within 50 miles of a covered facility before PSDAR submission or license transfer.
    • Creates a public submission and visibility process for PSDARs or license transfer applications, with possible redaction for trade secrets, national security, or privacy.
    • Establishes a minimum 90-day public participation period (public comments and at least two public meetings).
    • Requires NRC to consider host-state recommendations and to incorporate acceptable changes, with a formal decision process on adequacy or inadequacy.
    • Sets deadlines: generally 1-year decision documents for PSDAR/license transfer, with a 2-year window to re-submit if initially inadequate; possible extensions for unforeseen circumstances.

  • Technical and Conforming Amendments

    • Reorganizes and renames regulatory sections (e.g., updates to the Atomic Energy Act’s Table of Contents and licensing provisions).

  • Grants to Support Community Advisory Boards

    • Establishes short-term (3-year) and long-term grant programs to fund community advisory boards that facilitate communication with local communities.
    • Defines eligible entities (States or Tribes with decommissioning activity in the near term).
    • Allows subgrants to boards for expertise, administration, travel, communications, and other reasonable costs, with geographic diversity goals.
    • Requires the Commission to adopt best-practice guidance for local advisory boards.

  • Funding and Assistance for Nuclear Host Communities

    • Provides funding and enhanced federal support for host communities, particularly those that are small, rural, or disadvantaged.
    • Allows 100% federal cost share for certain eligible host-community projects.
    • Requires annual contributions from licensees to support host-community recovery accounts and economic development.

  • Financial Assistance for Communities with Stranded Nuclear Waste

    • Creates a noncompetitive grant program to assist local governments facing stranded nuclear waste, with payments tied to kilograms of stored spent fuel.

  • Economic Development in Host Communities

    • Establishes host community economic recovery accounts managed by the Secretary of the Treasury (for each covered facility).
    • Sets minimum funding thresholds and allows funds to support local economic development plans and strategies.

  • Compliance and Rulemaking

    • Requires NRC rulemaking to implement PSDAR consultation requirements, including fee-like deposits to the new fund.

Who is affected

  • Nuclear power plant licensees and prospective transferees of licenses.
  • Host States, Tribal governments, and local governments within 50 miles of a covered facility.
  • Local communities, especially small, rural, or disadvantaged communities near decommissioning sites.
  • NRC oversees the PSDAR process and public participation requirements.
  • Communities with stranded nuclear waste and nuclear host communities receive targeted funding and technical support.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Consultation and public participation timelines (minimum 90-day public comment period; at least two public meetings).
  • NRC-led adequacy/inadequacy determinations with specified deadlines (generally 1-year for final decision documents; 2-year reset for initial PSDARs if rejected).
  • Grant programs to be established within specific timeframes (short-term within 180 days for program design; long-term fund-established provisions).
  • Rulemaking deadlines for implementing PSDAR consultation requirements (within 180 days of enactment for deposits to a new fund; ongoing regulatory updates thereafter).

Note: The bill text references specific CFR sections and codified processes; this summary highlights the substantive changes and their intended effects on decommissioning governance and community support.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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