Oversight in place for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, chaired by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), have scheduled a 10 a.m. hearing in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building on Sept. 9.

The hearing is entitled, “Oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”

The hearing will examine NRC’s long-term budget development and resource planning. Additionally, members will examine the proposed rule-making associated with the Near Term Task Force (NTTF), which was established in response to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear accident in Japan. The NTTF is tasked with evaluating the incident and developing recommendations for reactors throughout the United States. Ongoing activities related to storage, transportation and disposal of high-level nuclear waste will be examined as well.

“The NRC plays a critical role in protecting public health, safety and the environment, and we at the committee take our oversight responsibility seriously,” Whitfield and Shimkus said. “We look forward to hearing from the four NRC commissioners next week on issues including commission rule-making, staffing projections and budgetary needs. At the top of the list are the ongoing issues regarding the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, especially as it relates to Yucca Mountain.”