President Donald Trump’s executive orders Friday streamlining the process by which nuclear reactors get approved places more White House control over the ostensibly independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission, long considered an international leader in safety standards, safety advocates said.
The orders call for a reform to NRC’s “culture” in order to maximize nuclear energy and complete the licensing process for new reactors within 18 months, rather than the current timetable of years. The five-member, bipartisan commission must also submit its proposed final rules to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, as directed by a previous Trump order.