Nuclear Regulatory Commission

www.nrc.gov

Background

The NRC is a five-member commission with a mission to regulate the civilian use of nuclear materials and to ensure the protection of public health and safety. 

The NRC members are appointed to five-year terms by the President, and they are confirmed by the Senate. The President designates one member to serve as the chair and spokesman for the commission. As of September 2011, the chairman is Gregory Jaczko. The commissioners are Kristine L. Svinicki, George Apostolakis, William D. Magwood IV and William C. Ostendorff. Click here for more information on commission members.

Video Introduction

Location

Quick History

The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It began operations Jan. 19, 1975. Before the NRC was created, nuclear regulation was the responsibility of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Why should you care about the NRC?

Nuclear power is increasingly a part of the energy debate in Washington, and communities across the country are faced with nuclear-related decisions. The United States is currently home to more than 100 nuclear reactors in 31 states.

For a map of operating power reactors and major nuclear fuel facilities licensed by the NRC and sites undergoing decommissioning, use the NRC's Facility Locator. You will get all kinds of information, including a display of performance indicators. If an indicator is red, that should draw your attention.

The NRC regulates existing nuclear power plants across the nation. Monitoring the NRC is a good way to know what problems exist and what is being done to correct them in the geographical areas you cover.

Supporters see nuclear power as a key to fueling the nation’s growing energy needs as well as an answer to global climate change. However, detractors continue to raise many concerns, including questions about plant safety, proliferation of nuclear materials and disposal of nuclear waste generated by the plants.

Commissioners

Commission meetings and frequent staff meetings are at the agency headquarters. A schedule is on the NRC Web site. It helps to check with NRC press office if you want to interview individual commissioners or staff.

The agency is located across from the White Flint Metro Station in Rockville, Md. The easiest way to get there is go on the Metro's Red Line. There is no public parking at the site. Nearby, there are shopping areas where one might park and take a short walk. There is also some metered parking nearby at the other side of the Metro station. 

There are two NRC buildings. The one immediately across from the Metro is the one with the commission meeting room, the public document room and the Office of Public Affairs. Security is tight. There is the usual screening equipment. You should also have a photo ID to show security officers.

To meet with someone in the building, you will have to type into a computer the details about who you are and the nature of your visit. You will then be told to go to a phone on the first floor and call the office you want to visit. An NRC staffer will come to escort you to the right office -- for example, the Office of Public Affairs on the second floor.

To go the document room on the first floor, no escort is necessary. The document room has five reference librarians, with one always on duty, and usually more than enough work stations. However, please take note of document room's unusual hours: 7:45 a.m. until 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Information

To access Public documents, view photos and video or to information on submitting a FOIA request to NRC visit the NRC Library. After related disasters, such as what happened in Japan in 2011, FOIA requests may take awhile because of increased demand so get requests in early.

For more information NRC's regulatory activies, regarding US and global nuclear energy, emergency preparedness and radioactive waste, etc., refer to the annually updated NRC Information Digest.

How to track decisions and filings?

The NRC website is a good starting point to familiarize yourself with the agency (www.nrc.gov).

Follow on twitter <@NRCgov>

Or for blog posts on topics such as emergency preparedness or nuclear security or for information on new NRC resources, such as NRC's initiative to integrate QR (Quick Resonse) code technology into their communications efforts, visit the NRC blog.

You can also opt to subscribe to e-mail updates that can be specified by region.

Other Sources

The Congressional Committees with oversight over the NRC are:

• The House Energy and Commerce Committee, 202-225-2927

   press office:202-225-5735, http://energycommerce.house.gov.

• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, 202-224-8832, http://epw.senate.gov

For Industry Perspective

The Nuclear Energy Institute has a useful Web site at http://www.nei.org/. Media line: 202-739-8000. NEI says it has more than 300 corporate members in 17 countries. The Web site says: "They include companies that operate nuclear power plants, design and engineering firms, fuel suppliers and service companies, companies involved in nuclear medicine and nuclear industrial applications, radionuclide and radiopharmaceutical companies, universities and research laboratories, and labor unions."

Watchdog groups

Offering a more critical look at the NRC is the Union of Concerned Scientists. Media line: 202-331-5420. http://www.ucsusa.org/.

Does this agency's information need updating? programs@nationalpress.org