Nuclear Regulator’s Shrinking Staff a Safety Concern, Democrats Say

Shrinking staffing levels at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as nuclear power plants are shuttered raise safety questions, congressional Democrats told NRC commissioners March 20.

“The commission has been streamlined,” raising questions about the NRC’s ability to continue its safety mission with fewer staff and less money, Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) said during a joint House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on the NRC’s fiscal year 2019 budget request.

“Safety is one place where doing less is not negotiable,” he said.

NRC commissioners acknowledged that staffing may eventually become challenging for the commission as nuclear power plants continue to shut ...