Nuclear storage safety, and cybersecurity. This is an hour and a half. Good morning. I call this hearing to order. Todays over second the village of the Nuclear Regulatory commission, nrc. Id like to welcome chairman svinicki, welcome and im sad to say the Commission Remains without its full strength of five commissioners. This is the situation im eager to resolve. I continually the Commission Functions best with all five commissioners in place. Im a stock support of Nuclear Energy and it is a vital component of it all of the above approach to american energy. For a country to benefit from Nuclear Energy we need the nrc to be an effective efficient and predictable regulator. The nrc efficiency principle of good regulation states quote the american taxpayer, the rate paying consumer, and licensees are all entitled to the best possible management and administration of regulatory activities. I agree. It is our committees responsible 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 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. As uranium producers struck with depressed prices and production is a levels 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 uranium recovery licensing actions. These are fees on producers by the nrc that would not increase. For years seems be an inordinate amount of time for the nrc to institute flat fees given some of the agreements state many states that have assumed responsibility for regulating their uranium Recovery Facilities already have flat fees 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 wyoming, its also a strong verdict on the need for the nrc to prove improve its performance. Improving performance with goal of the nrc project aimed 2020. Quote, to transform the agency over the next five years this is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and agility of the nrc. Unfortunately project aim 2020 0 seems to be ending prematurely. The most recent project status report indicates the nrc will complete the vast majority of action items early next year and the staff on the long report on it. Project aim 2020 is becoming project aimed 2018, yet the challenges facing the nrc remain. These include premature closures of Nuclear Power plants, decrease licensing work at the nrc, declining new reactor reviews at the nrc. The nrc must continuously strive to improve its performance. This requires diligent leadership from the commission signed up for two having a discussion with the commission about these important issues. Following the Opening Statement by Ranking Member carper will continue with committees practiced on a five and Opening Statement from chairman svinicki and the two minutes from each of the commissioners. Now i would like to turn to Ranking Member for statement. Senator carper. Thanks, mr. Chairman. A special thanks to our chair for pulling this together i think its a time hearing, one that we need to have his industry faces as you know real challenges these days but theres opportunities this industry can help us to address. Nuclear industry something at a crossroads as we know. As the industry decides to take what ramifications not just for the industry but for our country and for the citizens. Let me begin by noting its important to examine the benefits as well as the drawbacks of Nuclear Energy. Pursue for both Nuclear Power helps curb our nation flights on dirty fossil fuels and reduces air pollution that threatens our health and climate. Nuclear energy has been, continue get real economic driver in many places around the country, create construction jobs, manufactured jobs. Despite all the benefits of Nuclear Power i would be remiss not to mention some of the potential consequences of Nuclear Energy. Weve seen fencers frances incidents in places like fukushima the damaged Nuclear Power can cause if the proper safety precautions are not in place. And up to date or not strictly followed. With Nuclear Energy, safety hs been and must remain a top priority in the operation of Nuclear Reactors. With Nuclear Energy, safety has been and must remain a top priority in the operation of Nuclear Reactors and that is a primary responsibility of this committee and especially the Nuclear Regulatory subcommittee of which ive been in the past a member for many years actually. The cost of safety precautions along with the cost of construction Operation Maintenance of 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 would be retiring sooner than expected. Our countrys Nuclear Reactors are getting older and we need to be replaced in the years to come. Building new reactors as weve seen a georgian south hill and has proven more difficult than predicted a decade ago. As most colleagues know i try to see the glass half full. I believe the challenges the Nuclear Industry faces can make it stronger and more efficient tomorrow and, frankly, make our nation stronger. If our country is smart we will replace aging Nuclear Reactors with new technology, developed in this country that is safer, produces less spent fuel and is cheaper to build and to operate. We see this opportunity as can be a leader in Nuclear Energy again as we once were. Reaping the economic and clean air benefits to flow from the leadership in order to do so we must make sure the nrc has the resources it needs to review these technologies and make certain Current Nuclear reactor fleet continues to be operated safely. Since joining this committee i have worked closely with the number of our college to strengthen the call for stacy within the industry. Due to our collective efforts and to the nrc leadership and the commissions dedicated staff, the nrc continues to be the worlds Gold Standard for Nuclear Regulatory agencies. Success at any organization starts with leadership and i must say ive been impressed with the current commissioner, commissioners at the nrc and its members ability to Work Together and i specially want to applaud our chair, Kristine Svinicki for the membership and Services Provided on the nrc and especially as archer. Each commissioner brings a unique set of skills to the commission which has served the nrc and our country very well. These three commissioners have done an excellent job. Having a full complement of commissioners would be ideal. As my colleagues know the commission, our committee has reported out several quality nrc nominees. I hope we can quickly confirm all three, giving Nuclear Industry critical migratory certainty at a a time when thes much uncertainty in other areas. An Organization Needs a strong dedicated workforce. With the necessary resources in order to be successful, and onetime nrc year after year rate as the top place in third, to worker now number 11, better than other agencies but is not number one. Why do what he taught but as how to get the nrc headed back to the topic budget cuts and it certainly play a big role in this change. I look forward to hearing from all of you by these issues and i want to hear what more we can do to better retain and recruit a quality workforce which is still revered across the globe. I close with this thought. I have two sons, both boy scouts, proud they are eagle scouts. I used to take them down to the Norfolk Naval station, im a former naval flight captain. I would take them about every three or four years. 25 or 30 scouts, some adult elite and we spent a weekend at the naval station. Had the opportunity to sleep in the barracks and eat in the galley and visit ships come some reason your creditors. One morning we visited the Teddy Roosevelt one sunday morning. Norfolk naval station. The captain came to meet with us on the bridge and interest are scouts and the adult leaders and he said these words. He said boys, when the teddy was a ghost to see, its 1000 feet long, long. And the boys go oooh. It carries with the 5000 sailors and the scout scope oooh dickey said boys, but that it was a ghost to see it carries on board 75 aircraft, and the the boys went oooh or any said boys, when the Teddy Roosevelt to see, it doesnt refuel for 25 years here and the adults went oooh. I tell that story again today. We have challenges with respect to Nuclear Energy no doubt but also great opportunity. Thats one of them, one of them. Many years in the navy chasing, tracking nuclear sub brands. In the navy i dont know of a single photography between a personal in making of failure of the Nuclear Power plants, on ships and so forth. The last thing is we have real problems, challenges, still although were making progress still a big challenges with respect to clean air. Nitrogen oxide, mercury, co2 and others. The good thing about nuclear, maybe the best thing about nuclear is our biggest source of clean energy with none of those pollutants including especially co2. For all those reasons i think its important we find a way to strengthen the industry and a big part is making sure with a strong interest great leadership at the top. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you very much. I want to welcome the witnesses again, remind you your full written testimony will be made part of the official hearing today. I look for to hearing your testimony beginning with chair svinicki. Thank you and good morning chairman barrasso, Ranking Member carper and distinguished members of the committee. My colleagues and i appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the u. S. Nrc licensing and regulatory actions since her last appearance. The commissions 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 bible 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. The agency continues to institutionalize the actions related to project aim and pursue additional activities that demonstrate the nrcs continued commitment to effectiveness, agility and efficiency. Since the initiative began we have endeavored to forecast our work with greater accuracy and identify changes to our resource needs in this dynamic nuclear environment. In light of the uncertainty, the agency is pursuing activities such as standardizing and centralizing support staff functions of both our headquarters and regional offices and institutionalizing a common prioritization process to prepare the agency to evaluate emerging work more readily understand that more efficiently. We are implementing an enhanced strategic workforce planning process to improve the training, agility and utilization of our very capable workforce. In a separate Improvement Initiative the nrc has analyzed its descending process to improve transparency equity building and timeliness. To improve transparency the agencies engage with stakeholders over the past few years to better understand their interests associated with how information is presented on invoices. Based on these engagements the agency initiated several projects to improve how billable work is tracked and reported. After programmatic work we continued its pursuit of risk informed regulation through which we strive to put focus on those issues that are most important based on the safety significance. Currently the Embassy Staff is evaluating and updating key risk informed decisionmaking guidance developing approach for using risk information on licensing reviews and implement training requirements for agency staff, enhancing communication of risk activity and advancing other initiatives across the agency. The nrc has taken many steps over the last year to ensure uniform implementation of the agencies regulations which govern when the agency can oppose additional requirements and are an essential part of the stability of our regular framework. In support of this the staff is undertaking action to improve oversight by interstate managers and lead to more consistent identification and treatment of potential issues. The nrc continues to evolve its licensing process for operating reactors. For example, the Nuclear Industry is researching advanced fuel designs aimed at improving safety margins under both norma normal. Several vendors are exploring candidate designs was referred to as accident tolerant fuel in response the nrcs helping plans to ensure we are prepared to effectively and efficiently review these fuels to ensure their proposed use meets our high safety standards. The nrc has received four letters of intent to seek subsequent license renewal which would authorize operation of commercial power Nuclear Power reactors for up to 80 years. The rc has been preparing for these reviews for several years and has published final versions of the documents that provide guidance for applicants and the nrc tactical reviewers respectively. Regarding activities associate with new reactors, although the licensees decide to discontinue construction of those new units in South Carolina, the nrcs Reactor Program continues its focus in support of the activities necessary to ensure the safe construction of the two units under construction in georgia. The addressee has finalizing testing derogatory procedures that will be necessary to assess the transition of these plans from the construction phase into the operating status. We document the first design, received an application for an early site permit for Small Modular Reactor in tennessee, both reduce progressing on schedule. We continue our free application engagement with advanced reactor design and vendors. Significant activity in the area of rulemaking is our rulemaking to improve the decommissioning, the deficiency of the process for operating reactors that he should get in the next few years. Years. Republish our predatory bases for the development of the proposed rule and concluded there is sufficient basis to proceed with new and modified regulations addressing emergency prepared is, physical Security Training financial requirements among other areas. We have received the request from the state of wyoming to achieve agreement state status and we received that application package, working to complete the assessment of that package and it will be provided to the commission, the staff target is doing that in september 22. Vermont has indicated its intent to pursue agreement state status for doing this active Hurricane Season the nrc responded to the hurricanes harvey, irma and marie in accordance with a response planted prc dispatch inspectors to the reactors impacted by the hurricanes to provide monitoring of the operators the good response and we worked closely with federal partners such as fema that we were also consistent with our practice evaluate both the agency and licensee responses to the hurricanes and diplomate any Lessons Learned to further improve our Immediate Response going forward. In closing the embassy continues to focus on efforts to achieve additional efficiencies with that any diminishment and are important Public Health and safety and Security Missions. On behalf of the commission i thank you for the somebody to appear before you and we will be pleased to answer your questions at the appropriate time. Thank you. Thank you very much, chairman serenity. Thank you, chairman,