House E&C Committee seeks feedback on nuclear regulation from industry stakeholder
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House Energy and Commerce Committee requested information from nuclear energy stakeholders on the regulatory efforts of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The NRC plays an important role in overseeing the safety and security of the nation’s nuclear technologies. The lawmakers said it is vital to encourage regulatory certainty and evaluate the NRC licensing processes to ensure safe, efficient, and predictable regulation. Thus, the committee is seeking feedback from industry stakeholders as it reviews the current NRC licensing process.
“Pursuant to the Committee’s responsibilities over the regulation of nuclear energy, its Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security will pursue this Congress oversight activity and legislative proposals relating to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and its reactor licensing and oversight activities. This work will build upon recent Congressional efforts to ensure the licensing, regulation, and oversight of the civil nuclear industry is predictable, efficient, risk-informed, performance-based, and protective of public health and safety,” the House lawmakers wrote in a letter to industry stakeholders.
The letter was authored by Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Energy, Climate, & Grid Security Subcommittee Chair Jeff Duncan (R-SC), and Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO).
Their objective is to identify what makes sense for a modern regulator to assure efficient, predictable regulation that provides for a robust and growing nuclear industry, consistent with the goals of the Atomic Energy Act.
“To assist the Subcommittee’s considerations, we invite you to submit to the Committee information and recommendations to improve the licensing review and approval process, as well as the oversight of NRC licensees. We are interested in NRC activities involving the licensing and oversight of today’s operating reactors as well as the siting, licensing, construction, and oversight of advanced nuclear reactor technologies. We also seek information and recommendations about improving NRC efficiency, management of regulatory costs and fees, public health and safety, staff effectiveness and culture, collaboration with the Department of Energy, and international activities. We invite comment on other issues that may be pertinent to regulation or deployment of nuclear reactor technologies.”
Responses are requested by May 5.
