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Committee backs bill to speed Louisiana permitting for small modular nuclear reactors
Summary
The House Natural Resources Committee on May 21 reported Senate Bill 127 favorably, a measure to let the Department of Environmental Quality expedite environmental permits for advanced nuclear projects that coordinate with federal agencies.
Senate Bill 127, which aims to speed environmental permitting for advanced nuclear power projects, drew support from the House Natural Resources Committee on May 21 and was reported favorable.
The bill was introduced in committee by Senator Bass. “Senate Bill 127 is a bill that aims to streamline the permitting process for advanced nuclear power generation in Louisiana,” Senator Bass told committee members, explaining the measure would authorize the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality to “develop and implement a program that expedites the processing of environmental permits, modifications, licenses, registrations, or variances” for applicants for small modular reactors who have letters of collaboration with federal agencies.
Courtney Burnett, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, appeared with the sponsor and told the committee the bill would not give DEQ any new substantive authority but would allow the department to act faster. “We’re not asking for the authority to do anything that we don’t already have the authority to do, just to do what we do quicker,” Burnett said.
Committee members asked about timing and scale. Senator Bass and Burnett described the bill as aligning state permit review with federal timelines for applicants that coordinate with entities such as the U.S. Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. On the question of how quickly a small modular reactor could be operational, Bass said experience in other states suggests even with streamlined permitting “you’re probably 6 to 7 years out even with the parity.”
Vice Chair Ozeron moved the bill favorably; with no recorded opposition raised during the committee, the chairman declared SB 127 “reported favorable.” The committee did not adopt a roll-call vote on the measure in committee.
The bill’s backers included representatives of utilities and industry groups who filed support cards; DEQ officials said the program is designed to reduce duplication between state and federal reviews when projects coordinate with federal partners.
A copy of the bill and associated documents will move with the committee record to the next legislative steps.
