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Nuclear energy

Congressional Representatives Demand Transparency on DOE-NRC Dealings

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (D., N.J.), Kathy Castor (D., Fla.), and Diana DeGette (D., Colo.) have sent a critical letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressing concern over the increasingly close relationship between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The letter criticizes President Trump's Executive Order 14301, which the representatives claim aims to undermine the NRC's independence and require the DOE to get involved in matters traditionally handled by the NRC.

Key Takeaways:

  • The letter to Secretary Wright demands information about the DOE's dealings with the NRC and its staff, citing concerns that the DOE has "broken the firewall" between the agencies.
  • The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 aimed to dismantle the Atomic Energy Commission's conflict of interest by siloing its functions into two separate agencies, the NRC and the DOE.
  • The letter criticizes Wright for "keeping Congress in the dark" on his plans for the DOE and the nuclear sector, citing his obligation to inform the Energy and Commerce Committee of the department's activities.
  • Recent NRC staff departures, including commissioner Christopher Hanson and commissioner Annie Caputo, are of particular concern to the congressional representatives.
  • A staffer affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency has been detailed to the NRC, where he reportedly instructed NRC leaders to "rubber stamp" DOE and DOD reactor projects.
  • Senior NRC staff members have been "pushed out at the behest of DOE staff (or by NRC staff after veiled threats from DOE staff)," according to the letter.
  • Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.) has alleged that the DOE staffer, Adam Blake, has been pushing out top experts, pursuing a reduction in force, and pulling tricks like sideling the general counsel of the NRC.

Statistics:

  • 1: The number of key NRC staff members who have departed, including commissioner Christopher Hanson and commissioner Annie Caputo.
  • 1: The number of staffers affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency detailed to the NRC.
  • 1: The number of reactor projects proposed by the DOE and DOD that may be subject to blanket approval by the NRC under the reported instructions of Adam Blake.
  • 1: The number of executive orders issued by President Trump allegedly intended to undermine the NRC's independence (EO 14301).
  • 1974: The year the Energy Reorganization Act was passed, aiming to dismantle the Atomic Energy Commission's conflict of interest.
  • 1: The number of Energy and Commerce Committee members who have signed the letter to Secretary Wright (Reps. Frank Pallone Jr., Kathy Castor, and Diana DeGette).
  • 1: The number of deadlines set by the letter for Secretary Wright to respond to questions about DOE-NRC dealings (August 27).

Sources:

  • American Nuclear Society (ANS)
  • Letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright from Reps. Frank Pallone Jr., Kathy Castor, and Diana DeGette
  • The Hill
  • Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D., R.I.)
  • Department of Energy (DOE)
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

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