HR4136-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation Act of 2025.

2. Office of Public Engagement and Participation There is established in the Commission an office to be known as the Office of Public Engagement and Participation. The Office shall be administered by a Director. Subject to the approval of the Commission, the Chairman shall appoint the Director. Subject to paragraph (7), the Director shall serve for— a term of five years; and no more than two terms. The Director— shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions of the Office; and may appoint, and assign the duties of, staff of the Office as necessary to carry out the functions of the Office. The Director shall be compensated at a rate of pay not greater than the maximum rate of pay prescribed for a senior executive in the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code. Subject to the approval of the Commission to initiate an action, the Chairman or a member of the Commission may initiate an action for removal of the Director. The Commission may remove the Director for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office but for no other cause. A Director may continue to serve after the expiration of the term of such Director until a successor is appointed. The functions of the Office shall be to— support public participation in proceedings before the Commission; advocate for the public interest within the jurisdiction of the Commission; provide educational, legal, and technical guidance and assistance to members of the public with respect to participating in proceedings before the Commission, including guidance on submitting comments, contentions, and hearing requests; coordinate assistance available to persons participating or proposing to participate in proceedings before the Commission; and coordinate assistance to the public with respect to authorities exercised by the Commission. Notwithstanding section 502 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 1993 (5 U.S.C. 504 note; Public Law 102–377), the Commission may, under rules promulgated by the Commission, provide compensation for reasonable attorney’s fees, expert witness fees, and other costs of participating in any proceeding before the Commission to any person whose participation substantially contributed to the approval, in whole or in part, of a position advocated by such person, if the Commission determines that— the proceeding is significant; and the participation of such person in such proceeding without receipt of compensation constitutes a significant financial hardship to such person. The Chairman shall take appropriate actions to ensure the independence of the Office within the Commission, including independence from other officers and employees of the Commission. Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the activities of the Office. Each report under paragraph (1) shall include— the number and types of requests for assistance received by the Office during the preceding year; and an assessment of the most common difficulties encountered by members of the public with participating or proposing to participate in proceedings before the Commission in the preceding year. Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted as reducing the standards for the Commission to engage the public in any proceedings or decisions. In this section: The term Chairman means the Chairman of the Commission. The term Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The term Office means the Office of Public Engagement and Participation established under subsection (a).