United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2007-10-03 monographic deposited born digital 17 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-114T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T P0b002ee180373383 f:d08114t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T GAO-08-114T Independent regulatory commissions Inspection Licenses Nuclear facilities Nuclear facility safety Nuclear reactors Occupational safety Performance measures Physical security Safety regulation Safety standards Government agency oversight NRC Reactor Oversight Process Testimony A77028 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is responsible for overseeing the nation's 104 commercial nuclear power reactors to ensure they are operated safely. Since 2000, NRC has used a formal Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) to oversee safety. NRC is also responsible for licensing the construction and operation of new reactors. Electric power companies have announced plans to submit 20 applications in the next 18 months. This testimony is based on GAO reports that reviewed (1) how NRC implements the ROP, (2) the results of the ROP over several years, (3) the status of NRC's efforts to improve the ROP, (4) NRC's efforts to prepare its workforce and manage its workload for new reactor licensing, and (5) NRC's efforts to develop its regulatory framework and review processes for new reactor activities. In conducting this work, GAO analyzed programwide information and interviewed cognizant NRC managers and industry representatives. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T.pdf GAO-08-114T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-114T Testimony GAO-08-114T; Nuclear Energy: NRC Has Made Progress in Implementing Its Reactor Oversight and Licensing Processes but Continues to Face Challenges; Independent regulatory commissions Inspection Licenses Nuclear facilities Nuclear facility safety Nuclear reactors Occupational safety Performance measures Physical security Safety regulation Safety standards Government agency oversight NRC Reactor Oversight Process