Two of the three current members acknowledged a sense of pressure to approve nuclear projects.
The three members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this past week. They assured the senators that public safety is their top priority as President Donald Trump’s administration has sought to accelerate the licensing process for nuclear reactors.
Commissioner Matthew Marzano stated, “Ultimately, the NRC will not license a reactor that is unsafe.”
Some members of the Senate committee were sympathetic to the administration’s goals to speed up approvals. Congress sought to address the backlog for the development and deployment of nuclear technology through the approval of last year’s Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act.
“American homes and businesses need more affordable, reliable energy, and need that power as soon as possible. As our nation’s nuclear safety regulator, the NRC is central to determining the future of nuclear power in our energy system,” Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said. “For decades, the NRC took too long, cost too much, and did not have a predictable and efficient process to approve new licenses or modernize outdated regulations.”
NRC Chairman David Wright told the committee, “This is not just regulatory reform. It is a cultural transformation that positions the NRC to be a forward-leaning, risk-informed regulator for the future. The NRC is actively reforming its internal culture to become a more efficient and modern agency, while maintaining our focus on safety.”
Two of the commissioners acknowledged the pressure they feel to approve advanced nuclear reactors after the president fired a member of the commission earlier this year. A commissioner resigned more recently to spend more time with her family, which brought the five-member panel down to three current commissioners.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners to be discerning as they evaluate the applications for advanced nuclear reactor development.
- For members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee as they provide oversight to the NRC.
Sources: Roll Call, MSN, Reuters
