U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito commended the NRC Commissioners for their efforts in enhancing the advanced nuclear reactor licensing rulemaking. In a statement, Senator Capito expressed her appreciation, stating, "I applaud the NRC Commissioners for addressing major shortcomings in the draft proposed rule." She emphasized the importance of establishing a regulatory framework to facilitate the licensing and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors, referring to the Commission's direction to rectify the flawed Part 53 rulemaking as a positive step towards advancing clean and reliable nuclear energy.
The background of the issue highlighted the bipartisan support received by the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (NEIMA) in 2018, which mandated the NRC to develop a regulatory framework for advanced nuclear reactor applicants. The NRC staff presented the draft proposed rule, titled "Risk-Informed, Technology-Inclusive Regulatory Framework for Advanced Reactors," in March 2023. Following this, Senator Capito, along with a bipartisan group of legislators, urged the NRC in July 2023 to establish an effective and practical Part 53 framework.
Senator Capito reaffirmed her commitment to promoting policies that support the expansion of advanced nuclear technologies, including advocating for the ADVANCE Act to be signed into law. The efforts of the NRC Commissioners in refining the licensing framework for advanced nuclear reactors align with the broader goal of enhancing the nation's utilization of clean and efficient nuclear energy sources.