Edwin Lyman

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Trump administration overhauls nuclear safety regulations

Vocal critic of regulatory changes

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission finalized a rule on October 22 that lets reactor applicants reuse analyses and test data from projects already authorized by the Energy or Defense departments. The agency targets about 18 months for a first-of-a-kind review and 12 months for later applications.

Updated Oct 23

Notable Quotes

They're taking a wrecking ball to the system of nuclear safety and security regulation oversight that has kept the U.S. from having another Three Mile Island accident. I am absolutely worried about the safety of these reactors.

from Trump administration overhauls nuclear safety regulations · Updated Oct 23

This deeply troubling development confirms my worst fears about the dire state of nuclear power safety and security oversight under the Trump administration. The Energy Department has not only taken a sledgehammer to the basic principles that underlie effective nuclear regulation, but it has also done so in the shadows.

from Trump administration overhauls nuclear safety regulations · Updated Oct 23

They're allowing companies to write their own ticket as far as security goes, and I'm especially concerned because several of the new reactor designs use higher levels of enriched uranium in their cores, which could make them targets of theft.

from Trump administration overhauls nuclear safety regulations · Updated Oct 23