Safety remains NRC’s top priority Wright tells Senate panel

Despite the recent executive order to overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, safety will continue to be the independent agency’s highest priority, NRC Chair David Wright told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday.

“Safety is our strike zone over home plate, it is our North Star and it will continue to be that,” Wright said. “Nobody has asked us to compromise safety in any way.”

President Donald Trump on June 16 nominated Wright for another five year term. During Wednesday’s confirmation hearing, several senators sought reassurance NRC would not become a rubber stamp. 

On May 23, President Trump released several nuclear-related executive orders to streamline nuclear licensing. Of the executive actions, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was set out to overhaul the agency in 18 months.

During the hearing some Democratic senators voiced concern with recent White House actions, including the firing of NRC commissioner Christopher Hanson.

While Wright did not comment on Hanson’s firing, he acknowledged the staff shortages the agency faces.

The NRC is experiencing a “bump in the road” as the agency is dealing with uptick nuclear technology applications and reduced staffing, Wright said. However, Wright said the changes mostly revolve around process. 

Wright credited the bipartisan Advance Act, passed by Congress, to helping the NRC become more efficient, especially with advanced reactor applications.

According to Wright, 25 nuclear projects are in the pre-application phase and five others have actually filed applications. He said NuScale received SMR design approval from the NRC and is ready for commercial use.

When Wright was asked about small modular reactors and microreactors, he emphasized the importance of having one of the nuclear technologies built.

“If we get one built, then it’s going to send a good signal to the market, it’s going to help us [NRC] craft a pathway on the commercial side to get these things through the process quicker too,” Wright said in response to Sen. Roger Wicker’s (R-Miss.) question.

For employment matters, Wright said that the agency knew of multiple staff members nearing retirement before the COVID-19 pandemic and the agency began succession planning. 

The agency ‘s workforce will grow to address the increased workload as the NRC can directly hire employees, if necessary, because of the Advance Act, as Wright said.