STATEMENT OF JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN
HEARING ON NRC OVERSIGHT
March 9, 2000

Good morning and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this oversight hearing on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Nuclear energy is a critical component of our power supply in Connecticut and New England, and I have long been a supporter of continued research and development of nuclear energy. Because it does not produce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and other air pollutants, nuclear power should be a key component of our nation's ability to meet its energy needs while also ensuring clean air for the public.

However, nuclear energy is not without risks, and for that reason I also support a strong role for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in overseeing and managing our nation's nuclear plants. Both Congress and the public must have confidence in the NRC's ability to ensure that our nuclear facilities are operated with the highest safety standards. A strong NRC has been particularly important for oversight of the Millstone Units in Connecticut, where the NRC investigated federal safety regulation violations that occurred in 1995. Over the next year, the Millstone Units will be auctioned to a new owner under Connecticut's energy deregulation legislation. Again, NRC oversight will be critical for maintaining strong standards of safety and management as this transition occurs.

Last April, in response to a request from Senator Biden and me, GAO issued a report entitled "Strategy Needed to Regulate Safety Using Risk Information." The report identified some of the challenges that the NRC and the nuclear power industry could experience in a competitive environment, and issues that the NRC must address in its efforts to implement a risk- informed approach to plant safety and enforcement of oversight programs.

Now, over a year later, the NRC has gained more experience with risk-informed safety management. A pilot program at 13 reactors will now be extended to all plants, including Millstone. Overall, I am hopeful that this new framework will help the agency prioritize the safety concerns that pose the greatest risk. I am also supportive of NRC's intention to increase transparency by posting report cards for every plant on the Internet. Timely sharing of information with the public can only help enhance the effectiveness of the NRC. It also can serve a verification role to correct any mistakes that might have been since performance evaluations are based on a plant's self-reporting.

Today am I interested in hearing from witnesses about what progress NRC has made in addressing some of the questions raised in the GAO report. For example, how will NRC monitor the safety of our nuclear plants in a deregulated environment? How is NRC managing the transition from traditional to risk-informed regulatory paradigms? What steps is the NRC taking to improve its base of information on the plant conditions and modifications to ensure that adequate information is in place to effectively monitor plant safety?

Finally, I'd like to touch on the issue of NRC's regulatory review and rulemaking proceedings that could provide for the release of radioactively contaminated solid materials for use in consumer products. As has been evident in several news stories about this issue, the public is very concerned about the potential for radioactively contaminated materials to be introduced into the metals stream. Once included, treated metals will not be identifiable in particular products, and there is a real concern on the part of recyclers and scrap metal dealers that even if the material is deemed to be safe under state or federal regulation, consumers may not be satisfied and will not want to purchase the product. It is absolutely essential that the NRC do a better job of providing an open, clear forum to proceed with this rulemaking. I recently joined several other Senators on this Committee in writing to you to raise concerns about how the NRC is addressing this important issue. I hope that you can provide a response here today.

I look forward to hearing from the witnesses, and thank all of you for participating in this hearing today.