A newly released U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report confirms that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) needs to do more to prepare to efficiently review and approve advanced nuclear reactor designs, according to U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).
“The United States should lead the world in developing and deploying reliable advanced nuclear energy, and Congress is poised to provide the NRC the tools and direction to enable the safe use of these technologies,” said Sen. Capito, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“Restoring American nuclear energy leadership is essential for reducing emissions, providing reliable, affordable, clean energy to Americans, and for building durable economic and strategic relationships around the world,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The lawmakers in February 2022 requested the GAO report to assess the NRC preparedness to review and approve advanced nuclear reactor applications. The report, titled “Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors,” was published in July.
The report makes four recommendations to the NRC that closely align with steps taken in Congress to ensure the NRC is fully prepared to efficiently license advanced nuclear reactors, according to a report summary provided by the lawmakers.
“This report’s recommendations align with the Energy and Commerce Committee’s bipartisan legislative efforts and reinforce the need for a modern, efficient, predictable regulatory environment to ensure a robust nuclear industry,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said. “I look forward to continuing this important bipartisan work to help usher in the next wave of American nuclear energy.”
For instance, the GAO recommends that the NRC establish benchmarks and measures to assess the effectiveness of its recruitment, relocation, and retention strategies and incentives to help it retain and hire the staff to license advanced reactors, according to the report, which says the NRC generally agreed with GAO’s recommendations.
Sen. Capito added that lawmakers have taken “a major step forward” in accomplishing these shared goals by including her bipartisan bill, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2023, S. 1111, in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the ADVANCE Act is signed into law this year,” said the senator.