H.R. 6268 – Nuclear for Brownfield Site Preparation Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 12:51 PM UTC

The Nuclear for Brownfield Site Preparation Act directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to speed up licensing reviews for nuclear production or utilization facilities located on brownfield sites, retired fossil‑fuel plant sites, or both. It requires the NRC to assess needed regulatory changes, develop strategies, and create new rules so that existing infrastructure can be reused and licensing can be expedited. The bill affects nuclear developers, existing fossil‑fuel site owners, and the communities around those sites.

Key Provisions

Defines “covered site” as a brownfield, retired fossil‑fuel, or both, and clarifies related terms such as production and utilization facilities.
Within one year the NRC must evaluate whether its regulations, guidance, or policies need changes to allow faster licensing at covered sites, considering reuse of existing infrastructure, early site permits, standardized parameters, and applications.
The NRC must submit a report on its evaluation to Congress within 14 months of enactment.
Within two years the NRC must develop and begin rulemaking for strategies that enable timely licensing reviews, taking into account existing infrastructure, emergency preparedness, historical environmental data, prior NEPA reviews, decommissioning needs, and community engagement.
A final report describing actions taken under the new strategies must be delivered to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee within three years.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.

Energy Subcommittee

November 10, 2023

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 7, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

November 7, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate and Grid Security.

Energy Subcommittee

November 10, 2023

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued November 7, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6268

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 7, 2023

Mr. Guthrie (for himself and Mr. Tonko) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To enable timely licensing reviews for nuclear reactor facilities at brownfield sites and retired fossil fuel sites, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Nuclear for Brownfield Site Preparation Act.

2.

Regulatory issues for nuclear facilities at brownfield sites and retired fossil fuel sites

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Brownfield site

The term brownfield site has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601).

(2)

Commission

The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(3)

Covered site

The term covered site means a brownfield site, a retired fossil fuel site, or a site that is both a retired fossil fuel site and a brownfield site.

(4)

Production facility

The term production facility has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).

(5)

Retired fossil fuel site

The term retired fossil fuel site means the site of 1 or more fossil fuel electric generation facilities that are retired or scheduled to retire, including multiunit facilities that are partially shut down.

(6)

Utilization facility

The term utilization facility has the meaning given the term in section 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2014).

(b)

Identification of regulatory issues

(1)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall evaluate the extent to which modification of regulations, guidance, or policy is needed to enable timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, production facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites.

(2)

Requirement

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider how licensing reviews for production facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites may be expedited by—

(A)

siting and operating a production facility or a utilization facility at or near existing site infrastructure to support the reuse of such infrastructure, including—

(i)

electric switchyard components and transmission infrastructure;

(ii)

heat-sink components;

(iii)

steam cycle components;

(iv)

roads;

(v)

railroad access; and

(vi)

water availability;

(B)

using early site permits;

(C)

using plant parameter envelopes or similar standardized site parameters on a portion of a larger site; and

(D)

using a standardized application for similar sites.

(3)

Report

Not later than 14 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing any regulations, guidance, and policies evaluated under paragraph (1).

(c)

Licensing

(1)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall, based on the evaluation under subsection (b)—

(A)

develop and implement strategies to enable timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, production facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites; and

(B)

initiate a rulemaking to enable timely licensing reviews for, and to support the oversight of, production facilities or utilization facilities at covered sites.

(2)

Requirements

In carrying out paragraph (1), consistent with the mission of the Commission, the Commission shall consider matters relating to—

(A)

the use of existing site infrastructure;

(B)

existing emergency preparedness organizations and planning;

(C)

the availability of historical site-specific environmental data;

(D)

previously completed environmental reviews required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);

(E)

activities associated with the potential decommissioning of facilities or decontamination and remediation at covered sites; and

(F)

community engagement and historical experience with energy production.

(d)

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report describing the actions taken by the Commission under subsection (c)(1).