The Urgency of NRC Reform - by Judi Greenwald, Executive Director, Nuclear Innovation Alliance Updated April 2024

NRC reform is a set of actions that need to be taken by NRC staff, the Commission, Congress, the nuclear industry, and civil society to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of advanced reactor licensing. [...] For example, then-Commissioner Baran proposed in June that the Commission request staff input on a proposed Commission policy statement to communicate the Commission’s expectations to the NRC staff, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, and external stakeholders on the effectiveness, efficiency, and timeliness of new reactor licensing reviews. [...] Under the leadership of Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee worked on a bipartisan basis to report out the ADVANCE Act with a 16-3 vote, and it has been added to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act. [...] NIA is pleased to see companies, civil society, NRC staff, Commissioners, and Congress recognizing and communicating the urgency of NRC reform and committing to do the hard work to make it happen. [...] NIA would like to see the Commission complete work on a policy statement and metrics for NRC efficiency and effectiveness, and for Congress to continue its efforts to hold them accountable.