ML25092A031
| ML25092A031 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/02/2025 |
| From: | Christopher Regan NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| To: | Bowen M Columbia Univ |
| References | |
| Download: ML25092A031 (1) | |
Text
April 2, 2025 Matt Bowen, Senior Research Scholar Rama T. Ponangi, Research Associate Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs 1255 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 Thank you for sharing with the NRC while attending our Regulatory Information Conference in March, your report Improving the Efficiency of NRC Power Reactor Licensing: Environmental Reviews, issued January 27, 2025.
(https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/publications/improving-the-efficiency-of-nrc-power-reactor-licensing-environmental-reviews/ ) We observed that your report was also the subject of material presented to the NRCs Commission by Dr. Katie Huff during the briefing of the Commission on March 4th, 2025.
We appreciate the insights from your report on NRCs environmental review process. Several recommendations point to legislative requirements and expectations delineated in the Fiscal Responsibilities Act of 2023 and the ADVANCE Act of 2024, on how the NRC should streamline its processes to effect more efficient and timely environmental reviews.
NRC evaluated your report and recommendations and found them consistent with those captured in the staffs: 1) SECY-24-0046: Implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 National Environmental Policy Act Amendments, (https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2407/ML24078A013.html) and 2) Report to Congress on ADVANCE Act Section 506: Modernization of Nuclear Reactor Environmental Reviews, A Report for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce July 2025 (https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2429/ML24290A159.pdf). We did not identify any new recommendations staff are not already considering. Staff is considering use of some of the data in the report to inform specific environmental resource area review efficiency initiatives.
Again, thank you for sharing with the NRC your report.
Sincerely, Christopher M. Regan, Director Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Christopher M.
Regan Digitally signed by Christopher M. Regan Date: 2025.04.02 07:54:51 -04'00'