nuclear-news

Members of Congress are complaining that the administration granted the licenses without their consent and oversight, and to a country that has threatened to develop a nuclear weapon while opposing nuclear safety protocols.

One GOP Senate aide tells John that the transfer of U.S. nuclear material and knowledge to Saudi Arabia is a “special case” that necessitates congressional oversight, and that Rif the administration won’t cooperate, Congress will force them.

The Department of Energy maintains that, under the section of the Atomic Energy Law that provides the authority for the export licenses in question, it does not need congressional approval. That line of argument has only spurred senators to demand more answers.

The NRC was the latest federal agency to be brought into the controversy during the budget hearings early this week. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., put NRC Chairwoman Kristine Svinicki, a Republican, on the spot about whether the commission raised concerns about the exports, as the NRC is designated under the law to provide an advisory role to the Energy Department on exports.

Svinicki and the other commissioners before the Environment and Public Works Committee said that they didn’t have direct involvement in the consultations between the NRC and the Energy Department, as Van Hollen barked that the commission is required to consult with the administration.

Svinicki suggested that staff would have likely been involved but not the commissioners.

Van Hollen asked for a full briefing from the commission on the Saudi nuclear license approvals.

“These 810 authorizations were apparently kept secret, and I must say, I am surprised” the chairwoman was not involved in the consultation, Van Hollen said……… https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/daily-on-energy-congress-targets-nuclear-regulators-over-saudi-dealmaking