An all of the above approach to american energy. For a country to continue benefit from Nuclear Energy we need the nrc to be an effective, efficient and predictable regulator. The nrc nrcs efficiency prince of good regulations states quote, the american taxpayer, the rate and consumer and licensees are all entitled to the best possible management and administration of regulatory activities. I agree. It is our committees responsively to assess the agencies performance. The nrc Safety Mission is paramount, the nrc must execute that mission in a fiscally responsible and timely fashion. My home state of wyoming plays a key role in the american Nuclear Energy supply. It produces more uranium than any other state. I want to commend the commission for agreeing to extend the duration of uranium recovery licenses from ten years to 20 20 years. This is an important recognition that the Regulatory Burden placed on these facilities is disproportionately high given how the nrc considers their operations to be quote low risk. The growth of this Regulatory Burden is clear in the month report. The nrc is taking far longer to make uranium recovery decisions that it did ten years ago. This general lack of urgency is troubling. Uranium producers struggle with depressed prices and production is at levels that we havent seen since the early 1950s. The need for timely decisionmaking from the nrc is greater than ever. The nrc is lagging in its progress toward instituting flat fees for routine recovery actions. These will be peace on uranium producers by the nrc that would not increase. For years seems to be an inordinate amount of time for the nrc to institute flat fees, given some of the nrcs agreement states, many states have assumed responsibility for regulating a uranium Recovery Facilities, already have these in place. Wyoming is seeking to become an nrc agreement state, and assume responsibility for regulating its uranium Recovery Facilities. While this would be a positive step for wyoming and its uranium producers its a strong verdict on the need for the nrc to improve its performance. Improving performance was a goal of the nrcs project and 2020. Quote, to transform the agency over the next five years to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and agility of the nrc. Unfortunately project aimed 2020 seems to be ending prematurely. The most recent project aimed status report indicates the nrc will complete the vast majority of action items early next year and the nrc staff will no longer report on it. Project aimed 2020 is becoming project aimed 2018, yet the challenges facing the nrc remain. These include premature closures of Nuclear Power plants, decrease licensing work of the nrc and declining new reactor reduce the nrc. The nrc must continuously strive to improve its performance. This requires diligent leadership from the commission which other afford having a discussion today day with commission about these important issues. While in the Opening Statement by Ranking Member carper we will continue with the practice of fiveminute Opening Statement from chairman subentity and the two met statements of each of the commissioners. With that i would like to turn to rank a a member for stateme. Senator carper. Welcome to the commissioners. A special thanks to our chair for pulling this together and i think at the time the hearing. This is one that we need to have, the industry faces real challenges these days but theres opportunity that this industry can help us to address. Nuclear industry is something at a crossroads as we know. The path the industry sites to take one of ramifications not just for the industry but for a country and for the citizens of our country i think for decades to come. Meet begin by noting its importance and the benefits as well as the drawbacks of Nuclear Energy. Its a form of Nuclear Power helps our Nation Alliance on dirty fossil fuels and reduces our air pollution that threatens our health and our climate. Second, Nuclear Energy has been, and should be a real economic driver in many places around the country, creates construction jobs, manufacturing jobs, operations jobs for communities across the nation. Despite all the benefits, i would be remiss not to mention some of the potential consequences of Nuclear Energy. Weve seen from serious incidents in of places like fukushima the damage Nuclear Power can cause if the proper safety precautions are not in place. And uptodate or not strictly followed. Nuclear energy come safety must remain a top priority in the operation of the correctors. Let me repeat that. With Nuclear Energy, safety is bent and must remain a top priority in the operation of Nuclear Reactors and that is a primary responsible of this commission and especially the nuclear regular subcommittee which which had been a member or menus. The cost of safety precautions along with the cost of construction operations and maintenance for current Nuclear Reactors can be expensive as we know. Especially compared to the cost of other sources of energy such as natural gas. Some u. S. Reactors will be retiring sooner than expected to market for super at this the s, countries Nuclear Reactors are getting older and will need to be replaced. Building new reactors as were seeing in georgia and South Carolina has proven more difficult than predicted a decade ago. As most of my colleagues know i often try to see the Glass Half Full and i believe the challenges the Nuclear Industry faces and make it stronger and more efficient to mark and, frankly, make our nation stronger. If our country is in smart we will replace our aging reactors with new technology, developed in this country that essay, the produces less spent fuel and is cheaper to build and operate. Economically of benefits that flow from that leadership in order to do so we must make sure the nrc has resources it needs to review these technologies to make certain our current reactors continue to be operated safely. Since joining this committee i worked close with a number of records to strengthen the culture of safety within use Nuclear Energy industry. Part due to our collective efforts and to the nrc leadership and the commissions dedicated staff, the nrc continues to be the world Gold Standard for Nuclear Regulatory agencies. Success at any agency in rotation starts out leadership of the top. Im a safe ive been quite impressed with the current commissioner, commissioners at the nrc and its members ability to work together. I especially want to applaud our chair, Kristine Svinicki for the leadership, long membership and Services Provided at the nrc especially as archer. Each commissioner brings a unique set of skills to the commission which hester of the nrc and i think our country very well. These three commissioners have done an excellent job. However, having a full complement of commissioners would be ideal or as my colleagues note commission, the committee, our committee has reported out several quality nrc nominees including Jeffery Baran renomination that awaits senate confirmation. I hope we can give certainty at a time when theres much uncertainty in other areas pick an Organization Also needs a strong dedicated workforce, and within the server resources in order to be successful, onetime nrc year after year ranked at the top place in the federal workforce worker now number 11, a lot better than other agencies but its not number one. I want to talk about how to get the nrc headed back to the topic budget cuts and uncertainty play a big role in this change i look forward to hearing from all of you about this issue is a most important i want to hear more will begin to do better retain, recruit quality workforce at the nrc which is still revered across the globe. I shared, i will close with this thought. I have two sons. They are both boy scouts, eagle scouts, and i used to take them down to the naval station, and i would take them down to the Norfolk Naval station but every three or four years, and 25 or 30 scouts can some of the leaders and we would spend the weekend at the naval station and had the opportunity of weekend to sleep in the barracks and eat in the galley and visit ships, summaries and aircraft carriers. One morning, we visited the Teddy Roosevelt at the naval station and the captain came to me, took us on the bridge and get dressed our scouts and adult leaders and he said these words come he said boys, hes talking to the scouts, boys, when the Teddy Roosevelt goes to seats 1000 feet long. And he said boys, and the Teddy Roosevelt to see, it carries with a 5000 sailors and the scouts went ooh. When the teddy mother goose is he a carries on board 75 aircraft. And the boys went ooh. And he said boys, when the Teddy Roosevelt goes to see it doesnt refuel for 25 years. And the adults went ooh. Thats, i tell that story again today. We have challenges with respect to Nuclear Energy no doubt but theres also a great opportunity and thats just one of them. That is one of them. Spent many years in the navy tracking nuclear submarines. Had a lot of Nuclear Powered ships. In the navy i dont know of a single fatality between a person out in the because of the failure of the nuclear parts on the ships. The last thing, we have real problems and challenges, still although were making progress with big challenges with respect to clean air. The good thing about nuclear, maybe the best thing that nuclear is our biggest source of clean energy with none of those pollutants including especially co2. For all those reasons i think it support would find a way to strengthen industry and part of this maker shall have a strong nrc with great leadership at the top. Thanks mr. Chair. I want to welcome the witnesses again, remind you that your full written testimony will be made part of the official hearing today. I look for to hearing your testimony beginning with chairman Kristine Svinicki. Thank you, good morning. My colleagues and i appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the the u. Nrc licensing and predatory actions since her last appearance. The commission continued efforts to improve the agencies efficiency and effectiveness have focused on providing the appropriate level of resources to both corporate and programmatic areas are continuing to carry out our vital safety and Security Mission without diminishment. In june 2014 the nrc established project aims to enhance the agencies ability to plan and execute its mission in a more efficient and effective manner. Were implementing an enhanced process process for the training and utilization of our work force. In a separate initiative theyve analyzed the fee setting process to improve transparency, equitiability and timeliness. To improve transparency theyve engaged with stake holders the past few years to understand how information is presented on invoices. Based on these engagements, the agency initiated several project to improve how billable work is tracked and reported. And pursuing the risk informed regulation through which we strive to put focus on those issues that are most important based on their safety significance. Currently, the nrc staff is evaluating and updating key risk informed Decision Making guidance, developing a graded approach for licensing reviews, implementing training requirements for agency staff, enhancing communication of risk activities and advancing other initiatives across the agency. The agency the nrc has taken many steps over the last year to ensure uniform implementtation of the backfitting regulations which govern when the agency can impose additional requirements and are an essential part of a stability of regulatory frame work. In support of this initiative the staff is undertaking oversight by managers and led to more consistent identification and treatment of potential backfitting issues. And the license for operating reactors, for example, the Nuclear Industry is researching advanced fuel designs aimed at improving safety margins under both normal and populated accident conditions. Several vendors are exploring candidate designs which they refer to as accident tolerant fuel. In response nrc is developing plans to ensure that we are prepared to effectively and efficiently review these fuels to ensure that their proposed use meets our high safety standards. The nrc has also received four letters of intent to seek subsequent license renewal which would authorize operation of Nuclear Power reactors for up to 80 years. The nrc has been preparing for reviews for several years and have published final versions of the documents that provide guidance for applicants and for the nrc technical reviewers respectively. Regarding nrcs with new reactors although the licensees for units two and three decided to discontinue construction of those units in South Carolina, the nrcs Nuclear Reactor program is in support of activities necessary to ensure the safe construction of the two units under construction at the vocal site in georgia. The nrc is finalizing and testing regulatory procedures that will be necessary for the transition of the plans from the construction phase into the operating status into their operating status. And theres a small modular reacting design. Received an application for an early site permit for small modular reactors in tennessee, both of these reviews are progressing on schedule and we also continue our preapplication engagement with advanced reactors designers and vendors. Significant activity in the area of rule making is to improve the efficiency of the decommissioning transmission process for reactors shutting down in the next few years. Weve published the regulatory basis for the development of the proposed rule and sufficient basis to pursue with modified regulation for Financial Training and requirements among other areas, weve received a request from the state of wyoming to achieve agreement state status and were working to complete the assessment of that package and it will be provided to the commission, the staff targets doing that in september of 2018. The state of vermont has indicated its intent to pursue agreement state status. During this active Hurricane Season nrc responded to the hurricanes harvey, irma and maria in accordance with our Incident Response plans. The nrc dispatched to monitor for the events response and worked closely with federal partners such as fema. We will evaluate both the agency and licensee responses to the hurricanes and implement any Lessons Learned to improve our event response going forward. In closing nrc continues to if he cuss focus on efforts in safety. And i thank you for the opportunity to appear before you and we will be pleased to answer your questions at the appropriate time, thank you. Thank you very much, commissioner it svinicki. Thank you for the opportunity to appear here today. Its a pleasure to be here to discuss the commission. Presenting an overview of the process the agency is making and project aim. I want to briefly highlight a few important efforts underway at nrc. Nrc remains focus on post fukushima safety enhancements and Lessons Learned and the final rule on mitigating beyond designed events. That is a number of recommendations from the task force and culmination of years of work. The staffs focus is shifting to oversight and inspection of licensee implementation of natural hazard evaluation. Decommissioning, since 2013, six reactors permanently shut down and seven more announced plans to close down in the coming years. Despite the growing numbers, they do not have regulations specifically tailored from the operations to decommissioning. As a result. Licensees with reactors transitioning to decommissioning, seek exemptions from applicable and operating reactors. It will now address this gaff and allow us to move away by regulating exemption in this area. The exemption approach is not very efficient and does not provide for public participation. The rule making provides a chance for nrc and all of our stake holders to take a fresh look at our decommissioning process and requirements. States, local governments, nonprofit groups and the communities around these plants are engaged and want to share their views. We need to thoughtfully consider their ideas with an open minds. Even with some existing plants, and decommissioning, theres advance in new reactors. Five vendors with the staff and we anticipate additional vendors may reach out in nearterm. We want to process for nonlight water reactors in the areas were happy to discuss these and other areas of interest and thank you, i look forward to your questions. Thank you. Commissioner burns. Thank you, chairman, Ranking Member barrasso and the members of the committee. Its a pleasure to be here today and i look forward to addressing our safety and Security Mission as we focus on ways to carry out th