Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025 | ChamberLight
Bills · S 3441
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
Senate BillS 3441Energy
Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Act of 2025
INTRO DEC 11· LAST ACTION DEC 11
READING
33MIN
COSPONSORS
3
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed Senate
Passed House
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
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This bill matters because cleaning up a closed nuclear plant is a lengthy, complicated process that involves managing dangerous radioactive materials. If this bill becomes law, it ensures that local communities and their elected representatives will have a mandatory role early in the process, allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions about public safety, environmental protection, and potential economic impacts. Without this law, their involvement in these crucial decisions might be less formal and structured.
Without this bill, decisions about how a closed nuclear plant is cleaned up, or who takes over its license, might proceed with less formal input from the people living closest to the site. This legislation aims to prevent situations where communities feel excluded from critical decisions that could affect their health, safety, and environment for generations. It provides a mechanism for concerns about radioactive waste storage, site cleanup, and financial responsibility to be heard and formally considered by federal regulators.
KEY PROVISIONS
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PROVISION 01
Requires nuclear plant operators to consult with affected states, local governments, and Tribal governments before submitting major decommissioning plans or transferring a plant's license.
Ensures communities and local authorities have a formal say in critical decisions about nuclear plant cleanup and ownership changes.
PROVISION 02
Mandates that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hold at least 90 days of public comment and two public meetings in the host state for significant decommissioning plans or license transfers.
Increases transparency and public participation, allowing citizens to voice concerns and provide input directly to regulators.
PROVISION 03
Gives the host state a formal opportunity to provide a statement of support, conditional support, or nonsupport to the NRC regarding proposed decommissioning plans or license transfers.
Ensures the state's official position is formally considered by the NRC in its final decision.
PROVISION 04
Defines "affected state" to include the host state and any state within 50 miles of a covered nuclear facility, expanding the scope of required consultation.
Recognizes that decommissioning activities can have impacts beyond immediate borders, extending consultation to a wider geographic area.
PROVISION 05
Requires public availability of proposed decommissioning activity reports and license transfer applications, with limited exceptions for sensitive information.
Promotes transparency by making key documents accessible to the public, fostering informed discussion and oversight.
This bill matters because cleaning up a closed nuclear plant is a lengthy, complicated process that involves managing dangerous radioactive materials. If this bill becomes law, it ensures that local communities and their elected representatives will have a mandatory role early in the process, allowing them to raise concerns and influence decisions about public safety, environmental protection, and potential economic impacts. Without this law, their involvement in these crucial decisions might be less formal and structured.
Without this bill, decisions about how a closed nuclear plant is cleaned up, or who takes over its license, might proceed with less formal input from the people living closest to the site. This legislation aims to prevent situations where communities feel excluded from critical decisions that could affect their health, safety, and environment for generations. It provides a mechanism for concerns about radioactive waste storage, site cleanup, and financial responsibility to be heard and formally considered by federal regulators.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires nuclear plant operators to consult with affected states, local governments, and Tribal governments before submitting major decommissioning plans or transferring a plant's license.
Ensures communities and local authorities have a formal say in critical decisions about nuclear plant cleanup and ownership changes.
high
Mandates that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hold at least 90 days of public comment and two public meetings in the host state for significant decommissioning plans or license transfers.
Increases transparency and public participation, allowing citizens to voice concerns and provide input directly to regulators.
high
Gives the host state a formal opportunity to provide a statement of support, conditional support, or nonsupport to the NRC regarding proposed decommissioning plans or license transfers.
Ensures the state's official position is formally considered by the NRC in its final decision.
med
Defines "affected state" to include the host state and any state within 50 miles of a covered nuclear facility, expanding the scope of required consultation.
Recognizes that decommissioning activities can have impacts beyond immediate borders, extending consultation to a wider geographic area.
med
Requires public availability of proposed decommissioning activity reports and license transfer applications, with limited exceptions for sensitive information.
Promotes transparency by making key documents accessible to the public, fostering informed discussion and oversight.
Not later than 60 days after receipt of proposed PSDAR or docketing of license transfer application.
Host State to be notified by NRC of opportunity to file a statement of support/conditional support/nonsupport.
60 days after host State receives notification from NRC.
Host State deadline to file statement of support/conditional support/nonsupport with NRC.
Not less than 90 days beginning on the date of submission to NRC or docketing by NRC.
Public comment period for proposed covered PSDAR or notice of proposed license transfer.
GLOSSARY
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Atomic Energy Act of 1954
A foundational U.S. law that controls how nuclear materials and technology are developed and used, especially regarding civilian nuclear power.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
An independent agency of the U.S. government that regulates nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials to protect public health and safety and the environment.
Decommissioning
The process of safely shutting down a nuclear facility, removing it from service, and reducing residual radioactivity to a level that permits the release of the property for unrestricted use or restricted use.
A detailed plan submitted by a nuclear power plant operator to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission outlining how they intend to decommission a facility after it stops operating.
Affected State
A state where a nuclear facility is located (host state) or any state located within 50 miles of that facility.
Covered Material
Various types of radioactive waste and nuclear materials, including high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel, that require special handling during decommissioning.
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTS
DEC 11, 25
Introduced in Senate
INTROREFERRAL
DEC 11, 25
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
The process where ownership and operational responsibility for a nuclear facility, and its operating license, are transferred from one entity to another.
