The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for the licensing and oversight of civilian use of nuclear materials (including the generation of #NuclearEnergy). The Agency is vitally important to the continued, safe operation of the existing fleet of nuclear power plants, recommissioning of shuttered plants, and licensing and deployment of new nuclear technologies. Many of its dedicated, highly-trained staff of technical experts are deeply committed to their public service mission and eager to enable these technologies for the benefit of society.
To that end, the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act of 2024 includes a provision to update the NRC's mission statement. Why do this? Because "mission" is the NRC's north star. It shapes organizational culture, influences regulatory policies and practices, and drives regulatory decision-making. Congress and the Biden Administration seek to foster a broader awareness of the NRC's purpose: to enable the safe, efficient deployment of nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes that improve the general welfare while assuring public health and safety. What better way to do this than through the mission?
On October 23, 2024, the NRC's General Counsel provided options for an updated mission statement to the Commission. Here is my take on those options as a weather vane for regulatory modernization. The piece includes alternatives that better align with the spirit and intent of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and the ADVANCE Act of 2024.
