Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2005

H.R. 3017, the Nuclear Power Licensing Reform Act of 2005, proposes stricter safety and security requirements for the licensing and renewal of commercial nuclear power plants. The bill would require facility operators to prove that their plants do not pose an "unreasonable threat" to the public or environment, specifically accounting for vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks.

For citizens living near these facilities, the bill mandates the implementation of federal and state-approved evacuation plans for all areas within a 50-mile radius of a plant. Additionally, it requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to verify that local population growth has not made a site unsuitable for a nuclear facility under modern safety standards before a license can be renewed.