The Trump administration has made significant changes to the oversight of nuclear safety and security on Department of Energy (DOE) property, affecting the development of nuclear reactors by startups. As reported by NPR, the changes involve the removal of about a third of the rulebook, heavy revisions to various sections, and a shift towards making previous requirements mere suggestions.
One notable impact of these changes is the potential for accelerated reactor development, particularly due to the relaxed safety protocols. Workers may now face higher radiation exposure, and environmental safeguards, such as limitations on groundwater contamination, have been downgraded. Additionally, the responsibility for plant security protocols has shifted primarily to the companies themselves.
These adjustments, made without public comment or notice, are exclusive to reactors constructed on DOE property, contrasting with the continued oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for reactors built elsewhere. Startups aiming to meet a deadline set by the Trump administration are among those affected, with several demonstration reactors in progress on DOE sites.
Source: TechCrunch