Committees to hold joint hearing on NRC oversight

The House Energy and Commerce Committee announced Wednesday that a joint hearing will be held relating to oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The Subcommittee on Energy and Power will join the Subcommittee on Environment and Economy, chaired by Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and John Shimkus (R-IL), respectively. The hearing will take place Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Rayburn House Office Building.

“The NRC plays a critical role in protecting public health, safety and the environment, and we at the committee take our oversight responsibility seriously," Whitfield and Shimkus said in a statement. "We look forward to hearing from the four NRC commissioners next week on issues including commission rulemaking, staffing projections and budgetary needs. At the top of the list are the ongoing issues regarding the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, especially as it relates to Yucca Mountain.”

Issues that will be discussed during the hearing include the Near Term Task Force (NTTF) and its work associated rulemaking proposals and long-term budgetary development and resource planning. The NTTF was formed after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster and is responsible for the evaluation of the incident and providing recommendations in order to protect nuclear reactors in the U.S.

Other topics will include the storage and transportation of nuclear waste.