Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2009

H.R. 1936, the Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2009, proposes stricter safety and security requirements for the licensing and renewal of commercial nuclear power plants. Under this bill, a facility would have to prove it does not pose an "unreasonable threat" to the public or environment, specifically accounting for vulnerabilities like terrorist attacks.

For citizens living near these facilities, the bill would require federal and state-approved evacuation plans for all areas within a 50-mile radius of a plant. Additionally, it would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to verify that local population growth has not made a site unsafe for continued operation, applying the same rigorous standards to license renewals as those used for new constructions.