Topic last month and outofcontrol wildfire was burning a half a mile away from the Nuclear Plant. Those of the people of california. Millions and millions of them. This is it. This plant is asking for a waiver so they dont have to deal with any type of emergency response. My concern about nrcs commitment to identifying and remedy safety problems is highlighted by my investigation into the installation of defective equipment. I learned that the nrc staff was preparing to allow the restart of one of the reactors before it had received a single answer to any of the technical safety questions it asked Southern California edison to submit. Continuing the pattern of doing everything that you are asked to do by the industry. This oversight investigation that i am conducting is important, not only to get to the bottom of this problem, but to avoid disastrous problems like this in the future. I am also concerned that whistleblowers at nrc fielded have no recourse but to Contact Congress to report safety problems and that is what they are doing ladies and gentlemen. Because nrcs internal procedures for addressing these concerns are broken. Remarkably, nrc is continuing to disrupt my investigation by withholding documents that the committee has a right to receive. Let me be clear. The nrc has no legal right whatsoever to refuse to provide the committee with these documents and today, i will make available a comprehensive analysis of this conclusion. In order for the Nuclear Industry to maintain the confidence of the people and we have a lot of people here who are very supportive of the Nuclear Industry, i believe it is critical that you step up to the plate on safety. Nrcs recent record does not inspire confidence and that does not bode well, because at the end of the day and American People do not want to have a reactor near them because of these industries and if the industry is not going to be there for them in the future. I look forward to asking you some more questions. Senator vitter . Thank you, chairman boxer, for convening the hearing. I want to thank the nrc commissioners for being here to testify. Lately various members on this committee have been very active in fundamentally addressing how the nrc manages itself and our Nations Nuclear power facilities. In recent months we have seen legislation and statements from my colleagues in favor of new and costly and in my view usually unnecessary regulation. I want to urge our commissioners to be precise and direct with your thoughts on these initiatives. You and your staff are the experts. We are not. We depend on your expertise. And so i urge you to recommit to using the best available science and facts to ensure that any new rules and regulations are necessary for our fleet, which happens to have a long track record of safety. There a baseline standard that the commission should meet when considering new regulations. I want to commend the commission for basing their recent vote to eliminate further generic assessments to expedite spent fuel. While some of my colleagues may disagree with the commission on the issue, it is important to note that the nrc staff that recommended these assessments had studied the issues and compiled all available data to make the best possible recommendation. As most of you are aware this past monday epa administrator released new regulations for Carbon Emissions from existing power plants. While the president s efforts to kill coalfired plants are already underway, i am concerned about another and somewhat more subversive and undercover opportunity to cripple the Nuclear Industry, which is ongoing. When he first announced the Climate Action plan, the president notoriously stated that he supports an alloftheabove approach. I think the really disingenuous nature of the claim requires only a review of actions by the administration. The work being done to undermine the waste confidence role is an example of a longterm strategy to shut down most or all of our Nations Nuclear power. Another example is the recent 316b rule. Although epas rule may not look like it may have a critical impact, many in the Environmental Community had hoped, it will be litigated, and whatever deal is cut behind closed doors in the process will assuredly be worse. I firmly believe the Nuclear Sector should play a role in meeting our Domestic Energy needs safely and with the confidence of the American People. I am concerned that some Senate Democrats are using these hearings to provide cover for efforts to kill Nuclear Generation, which has only served to decrease the output and capacity of our nations reliable nuclear fleet. These shutdowns will increase Greenhouse Gas emissions, as states struggle to find other baseload power. I want to state my concern on the lack of communication from the nrc and the administration about the renomination of commissioner apostolakis, whose term is up at the end of the month, commissioner magwood when he vacates his seat. Keeping these seat filled by qualified individuals must remain a priority. I urge the administration to act on this quickly so that the commission can continue its important work without interruption or distractions. Thanks very much for being here. Thanks for your work. I look forward to your expert testimony. Senator carper i mean senator cardin. I picked up a spot in seniority. Thank you very much for conducting this hearing, and let me thank the commissioners for being here. I thank you for your public service. Just to follow up on senator vitters point, i think we can have less pollution in our air, reduced carbon. We can do it in a way that will help Public Health and will create more jobs. We can do it with Nuclear Energy in a safe way. I think all of the above are very important, and this hearing is a timely hearing for many reasons. We have a responsibility in regard to Public Safety to make sure the Nuclear Regulatory commission is operating in a way that protects people and our community, but also timely because of the announcements on their power plant rules about our commitment to reduce our Carbon Emissions, and Nuclear Energy is an important part of that. That comes together in todays hearing, and i appreciate this opportunity. Nuclear energy is an extremely important part of our Energy Supply in this country. 20 of our electricity from Nuclear Power. That is 60 of our Carbon Free Energy is produced through Nuclear Energy. It is a critical part of our energy sufficiencies in this country, and, therefore, we need to do this in a way that is mindful of the safety of the people of our country. We have about 100 reactors today. Two units are in Calvert Cliffs in maryland, of obvious major concern to me. The nrc has its home in maryland. Were proud of the people who work there. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to work. I think this reflects the management at the nrc, and we are proud about that. As we conduct this oversight hearing, let me point out a couple trends. First, you have gone through the difficult times of sequestration, government shutdowns, pay freezes. That has had an impact on your workforce, and we expect it to be the best in this field. I am concerned about the impact of recent Government Policies on the budget has had on your capacity to get the best people, retain the best people, so we can carry out the mission of Public Safety in Nuclear Power in this country. I welcome your candid views as to where we are in regards to your ability to attract and retain the very best in order to ensure the safety of the people of this country and to be at the forefront of nuclear technology. And as senator vitter said, using the best science and information to make sure were doing what is right. There has also been a change in your mission over the period of the last couple decades. The number of nuclear actors are not what we had predicted them to be. That affects your overall mission, and how have you adjusted the realities of the number of reactors we are having in our country. The handling of Nuclear Spent materials, waste, has changed dramatically over the last couple decades. What has been your adjustments to your mission in order to make sure that you have adequate resources to carry out those missions. I welcome this hearing so that we can recount a responsibility of oversight to make sure that you have that resources necessary to not only provide the best for our country, but we know we are the leaders in the world in what we are doing on nuclear regulation. And secondly, whether because of the change in mission, we should be looking at a different way of making sure you have the adequate tools to carry out responsibility. I look forward to your testimony and i thank you for being here. Thank you, senator. Senator sessions . Uh thank you, chairman boxer and Ranking Member vitter. I know you are concerned about safety, and that is an important issue. You will be challenged to meet those standards that we expect of the board. But the Nuclear Industry, i have got to say, represents a vital part of our energy mix. It produces no Carbon Emissions, and in a week where the president has unveiled rules mandating a 30 reduction from 2005 levels of co2 by 2030, we surely should we discussing the role Nuclear Power should play in those goals. We have had an excellent Safety Record. Despite the lives that have been lost in another resources, we have never had an individual life killed as result of a nuclear accident. Zero, and none have been made sick, to my knowledge. This is a tremendous Safety Record and a tremendous environmental record. The risk involved in the Safe Management of Nuclear Power have been reduced, and this commission has been responsible for that. You have been watching us carefully. You are professionals. You are experienced. And you have a right and a duty to hold these industries, businesses to account, but you also have a duty and a responsibility to listen to them, and if they provide good information and helps you make the plants safer and less cost, you should respond to it. According to the Energy Information agency, Nuclear Energy produces 60 of all carbonfree energy. The work of following the District Courts order regarding the licensing of Yucca Mountain is of vital importance. As the court stated, because congress did not enact new legislation and because Congress Sets the policy, not the commission, regarding the storage of Nuclear Waste, it is clear the Commission Must promptly continue with the legally mandated licensing process for disposal of waste. I hope you will continue to move forward with that. Already the United States has spent 15 billion on Yucca Mountain. 15 billion, and we have not been able to utilize it effectively. The United States has had to pay 2 billion so far, which could grow to 50 billion, for claims from the governments failure to deal with the Nuclear Waste issue. This is an unbelievable series of events. I know the majority leader opposes this, but the local people in nevada have supported it in the area of this yucca, and the congress has not moved forward. It is time to move forward. I am really concerned, a power station in wisconsin, closed, a unit in florida, closed, a unit in california, closed by 2019. We only have one in georgia and some in South Carolina being developed. This is a serious concern. Safety is a priority, but clean, responsible Nuclear Power at a reasonable rate is so important for america. Madam chairman, i appreciate the hearing. I know this commission and its staff needs to be held to account, but they have been doing a good job. We got a problem with the prior leader, and he is gone now. Ms. Macfarlane is leading effectively. The board is working together effectively. I am proud of what they are doing, and i believe we need to be asking ourselves how it is, what can we do, reasonably and safely, to heal with what appears to be not a growth in Nuclear Power, but a decline. I think that would be a real tragedy for the people of the country. Thank you. Senator whitehouse . Thank you, mr. Chairman, and thank you to the Ranking Member for holding this important hearing on maintaining the safety of our Nuclear Facilities. A primary function of the Nuclear RegulatoryCommission Just to ensure that active and retired reactors are safe and secure. Safety concerns have been raised about unsafe storage of material at decommissioned plants alike. The 2011 meltdown at fukishima was a stark reminder. That episode prompted the nrc to establish a nearterm task force which outlined 12 safety recommendations to reduce of water abilities for American Nuclear plants. In 2012 the nrc ordered a clear place to carry out the firstever recommendations, which included updates to maintain cooling during external events of upgrades to reactor containment venting, and better monitoring of spent fuel pools during accidents. The ability of our existing and temporary Nuclear Waste storage to withstand emergencies is of particular importance in rhode island. Although we do not have any power plants within our borders, we are within a 50mile exposure pathway of connecticuts millstone power station and massachusettss pilgrim power station. Both facilities sit on the Atlantic Coast and face heightened risk from weather events and sea level rise. Given the Rhode Islands exposure, i join my colleagues in asking the gao to investigate the nrcs oversight of Emergency Preparedness at and near our Nuclear Plants. The latest fukishima report also reminds us that the technology at the worlds facilities have remained stagnant over the last 60 years despite the availability of a number of significant advances. Boosting Nuclear Plant security will require taking advantage of innovative approaches. At least one Reactor Concept does not require water for cooling, so it can be built away from the shoreline and coastal areas. Our Current Nuclear fleet is aging. As you have heard from my colleagues, many reactors are going offline. Last year four reactors closed in the u. S. , and the Vermont YankeeNuclear Power station will be decommissioned by the end of this year. When the Energy Produced by these reactors disappears from the grid, other sources have to fill the gap. To achieve the greenhouse reductions outlined in the president s Climate Action plan, we need to explore all potential options and technologies for zerocarbon baseload power. Investing more in advanced nuclear technologies, things like small modular reactors and traveling wave reactors, maybe a way to produce more Greenhouse Gas free energy while generating less waste. As we work to address the safety of our existing fleet and provide reliable power at a cost effective, we should apply the lessons of the fukishima in researching and developing advanced nuclear technologies. As chairman of the subcommittee on clean air and nuclear safety, i appreciate the opportunity to hear from all the nrc commissioners on these critical issues, and i once again thank the chairman and Ranking Member for holding this important hearing. Thank you, senator. Well, we are so happy to see you. Senator inhofe, welcome. Nice to be here. When i first became chairman and you will remember this, the Nuclear Subcommittee in 1997, it is interesting, we had not had an oversight hearing of the nrc in 10 years. We started having them, and now of course we are having two in a matter of weeks about the same topic, decommissioning. Since 1997 we have increased our hearings successfully, and im not worried about that. The aim seems to be to put the industry out of business rather than ensure that the nrc is conducting appropriate oversig