Insights from the Notable Senate Nuclear Regulatory Commission Assembly

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently facing challenges and questions regarding its independence and safety standards, as it works closely with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to understand the process of major new actions being reviewed by the administration.

In a recent development, NRC Chair David Wright confirmed a meeting where an administration official suggested the agency would "rubber-stamp" any reactors approved by the Departments of Energy or Defense. This comment was reportedly made by Department of Energy attorney Seth Cohen in a meeting with other administration officials and Department of Government Efficiency representatives.

The phrase has raised concerns among Democratic commissioners, who have expressed reservations about the agency's ability to protect public safety amid staffing shortages and challenges to its independence. The NRC has lost 143 employees between January and June, as well as several senior staff members, due to the administration's efforts to shrink the government.

Democratic commissioner Bradley Crowell, however, has expressed optimism and measured confidence that they can stay on the high end of the slippery slope and the right side of history. The president's orders aim to quadruple U.S. nuclear power capacity by 2050, and the NRC, along with the DOE and DOD, is working towards achieving this goal.

The NRC has historically worked with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD), and its relationship with the administration is showing mutual goals and respect. NRC Chair Wright stated that the agency has the ability to have conversations with OIRA on things that aren't aligned or that they don't agree with.

Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) asked how many NRC actions have been submitted to OIRA under the new policy, with Wright stating he believes it to be 18, though he needed to confirm the number. Senator Markey also asked whether the White House could change the NRC's rules and decisions, to which Wright responded that he wasn't certain and may need to get back on the details.

The White House's removal of Democratic Commissioner Christopher Hanson before his term expired earlier this year has also added to the controversy. Hanson deemed the move "illegal."

Despite these concerns, all NRC commissioners have expressed optimism that the administration and the NRC would work together to successfully and safely deploy new reactors. The story also appears in Energywire.

Committee ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) asked how the NRC is complying with the administration's directive that major new actions by independent agencies be reviewed by OIRA. Matthew Marzano and Bradley Crowell did not express confidence they could make safety-related decisions without potential White House repercussions.

Wright stated that the NRC has not seen any changes that have been alluded to by the senators regarding nuclear safety rulemaking behind closed doors. The NRC was given sole authority to license commercial reactors in 1974, and it continues to uphold this responsibility while working towards ensuring the safety and success of the nation's nuclear power industry.