HEARING STATEMENT: NRC’s Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety”

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works, released the following statement regarding the committee’s hearing on “NRC’s Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety.”

“Thank you Chairman Boxer for this hearing.  I want to welcome back the commissioners from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the committee and welcome the witnesses on the second panel.

“I believe this is Chairman Macfarlane’s last time to appear before our committee.  Before I get started, I want to thank you for your service and wish you luck on your new endeavors.

“For our country to meet its climate and clean air goals – we must have nuclear in the energy mix for the foreseeable future. For our country to have nuclear energy, we must continue to have a safe nuclear industry in the United States and around the world.

“Fortunately, the NRC is considered the gold standard when it comes to nuclear safety regulatory agencies.  As a result, we have some of the safest nuclear plants in the world.

“However, with nuclear safety we can never rest on our laurels. Science and technology are constantly evolving – and in response the NRC must adapt to ensure the public continues to be protected. That is especially true when it comes to incorporating lessons learned from the accident in Fukushima into our safety regulations.

“I believe the NRC is up to the challenge. 

“I look forward to hearing how the NRC is updating our nuclear safety regulations to reflect the insight gained through the accident at Fukushima and the many other challenges the commission faces on a day-to-day basis.”