To require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to consider certain criteria in relicensing nuclear facilities, and to provide for an independent assessment of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station by the National Academy of Sciences prior to any relicensing of that facility.

H.R. 966 proposes to expand the safety and security requirements the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must evaluate before renewing the operating license of any nuclear power plant. Under this bill, the NRC would be required to conduct more rigorous reviews of a facility’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks, the adequacy of local evacuation plans in light of population growth, and the long-term risks associated with on-site nuclear waste storage.

The bill specifically targets the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey, prohibiting its relicensing until the National Academy of Sciences completes an independent assessment of the plant’s safety record and structural integrity. For citizens living near nuclear facilities, this legislation aims to provide greater transparency and assurance that environmental health risks and modern security threats are fully addressed before a plant is permitted to continue operations.