Nuclear industry pushing for fewer inspections at plants
Posted Mar 14, 2019 03:33:30 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WASHINGTON — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering requests from the nuclear power industry for fewer inspections at its plants.
NRC staffers currently are conducting a sweeping review of how the agency carries out its oversight of the country’s 98 commercially operating nuclear plants.
The industry is asking the commission to ease inspections for radiation protection and emergency preparedness at plants. The industry also wants the commission to throttle back on what it tells the public about non-emergency problems at nuclear plants.
Trump administration appointees to the NRC panel say they are open to some of the requested changes. The NRC review is expected to be finished in June.
Outside watchdog groups and some NRC officials have questioned the industry’s push to do more self-inspections and reporting.
Ellen Knickmeyer, The Associated Press
