Lesko Introduces Legislation to Improve Nuclear Oversight and Inspection Practice

Statement

U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (AZ-08) introduced the Advancing Nuclear Regulatory Oversight Act to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to assess and implement improvements to their oversight and inspection practices.

"I am proud to introduce this legislation to require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to provide a comprehensive report to Congress on how they can safely improve their oversight and inspection programs and save taxpayers' money," said Congresswoman Lesko. "For example, the NRC already has inspectors on-site at nuclear power plants, yet they send additional inspectors to conduct oversight of operations that on-site inspectors can do. The NRC then bills the companies for having sent these additional inspectors. This is a waste of government resources and creates unnecessary costs for nuclear companies."

This legislation requires the NRC to report to Congress any policies the NRC revised or suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic and how these changes impacted the NRC's ability to conduct oversight of nuclear power plants. This bill requires the NRC to submit a report to Congress that identifies improvements to nuclear power plant oversight and inspection programs to maximize efficiency without compromising safety.

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