Government Agency That Regulates Nuclear Power Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversees all nuclear power plants operating in the U.S.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) oversees all nuclear power plants operating in the United States. Some experts believe that the NRC has been weak in enforcing regulations on power plant operators.

History

Prior to 1974, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) promoted the use of nuclear power and regulated its safety in the United States. Critics felt that this created a conflict of interest within the agency. Congress took action with the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which abolished the AEC and established the NRC.

Function

Congress tasked the NRC with the regulation of the use of nuclear power only and not with promoting its use. Primarily, the NRC creates and enforces regulations governing the safe use of nuclear materials. This mission includes monitoring and investigating accidental exposures to radiation and also inspecting and licensing nuclear power plants.

Significance

Because of incidents such as Three-Mile Island and Chernobyl, along with disputes over the storage of nuclear waste, public support of nuclear energy waned. However, the increasing cost of fossil fuels and concerns about their environmental effects has revived an interest in nuclear energy and the NRC is considering applications from utilities wishing to build new reactors.

References

• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Our History
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Safety Notice to Workers
• Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: The Future of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Resources

• The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Website