Legis Daily

Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

USA119th CongressS-1757| Senate 
| Updated: 5/14/2025
Tim Scott

Tim Scott

Republican Senator

South Carolina

Cosponsors (3)
Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, known as the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, seeks to significantly streamline the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) process for approving nuclear facility construction and operating licenses. It amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to allow the NRC to issue these permits and licenses, or their amendments, without a formal hearing if no person whose interest may be affected requests one, provided there is a thirty-day public notice and publication period. The NRC may even dispense with this notice for amendments determined to involve no significant hazards consideration. A central provision mandates the use of informal adjudicatory procedures for any hearings that are held, thereby moving away from more formal processes. This streamlining also extends to the licensing of uranium enrichment facilities, where hearings are now only required if specifically requested by an affected party, and the previous "on the record" requirement is removed. These amendments are designed to reduce procedural delays and apply to all relevant applications and proceedings currently pending before the NRC or initiated after the bill's enactment, aiming to accelerate nuclear project approvals.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4288
Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
May 14, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 14, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sep 23, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5549
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4288
    Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act


  • May 14, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 14, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


  • September 23, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5549
    Introduced in House

Energy

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5549: Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act

USA119th CongressS-1757| Senate 
| Updated: 5/14/2025
This bill, known as the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, seeks to significantly streamline the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) process for approving nuclear facility construction and operating licenses. It amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to allow the NRC to issue these permits and licenses, or their amendments, without a formal hearing if no person whose interest may be affected requests one, provided there is a thirty-day public notice and publication period. The NRC may even dispense with this notice for amendments determined to involve no significant hazards consideration. A central provision mandates the use of informal adjudicatory procedures for any hearings that are held, thereby moving away from more formal processes. This streamlining also extends to the licensing of uranium enrichment facilities, where hearings are now only required if specifically requested by an affected party, and the previous "on the record" requirement is removed. These amendments are designed to reduce procedural delays and apply to all relevant applications and proceedings currently pending before the NRC or initiated after the bill's enactment, aiming to accelerate nuclear project approvals.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4288
Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
May 14, 2025
Introduced in Senate
May 14, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sep 23, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-5549
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4288
    Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act


  • May 14, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 14, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.


  • September 23, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-5549
    Introduced in House
Tim Scott

Tim Scott

Republican Senator

South Carolina

Cosponsors (3)
Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)John R. Curtis (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Environment and Public Works Committee

Energy

Related Bills

  • HR 119-5549: Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted