Photo: Kelly Turso
Standing Up for Nuclear Safety Standards
By: Simone Anter, Senior Staff Attorney & Hanford Program Director
States, organizations push back against Trump’s weakening of nuclear regulations
In a bid to continue weakening the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and recklessly push a pro-nuclear agenda, the Trump administration issued a notice that new nuclear reactors are now excluded from federal environmental review. The Categorical Exclusion (CX) would potentially apply to Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMNRs) slated for siting at the Hanford Nuclear Site.
Now, Oregon and Washington Attorneys General have joined a coalition of states pushing back against Trump’s weakening of nuclear safety standards. In a comment letter, 12 states opposed the Dept. of Energy’s Notice of CX for Advanced Nuclear Reactors. Columbia Riverkeeper, along with 1,912 members and supporters, also submitted comments echoing the states that the CX violates NEPA and the Administrative Procedure Act.
Typically, these types of exclusions are reserved for actions that do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment (such as an agency mowing the grass). Applying a CX to new nuclear reactors would effectively fast track approvals and reduce federal oversight over the nuclear industry. Perhaps even more concerning, this exclusion will make it easier to develop nuclear reactors at Hanford, a location being targeted by the big tech industry. Hanford cleanup is at a crossroads, with increased pressure for new development threatening to derail a thorough and protective cleanup. This is unconscionable. Such a move threatens people, the environment, and clean water for generations to come. We in the Pacific Northwest refuse to add more waste to our nuclear waste burden.
Continue the pressure, and tell Oregon and Washington Senators Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Maria Cantwell, and Jeff Merkley: Oppose the development of SMNRs at Hanford, or anywhere in our region.
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