Atomic Safety and Licensing Board
Encyclopedia
A unit of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
authorized under the Atomic Energy Act
, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel consists of administrative law judges who hear complaints similar to ordinary district court
except for subject matter jurisdiction which pertains to matters under the Act, specifically, nuclear safety issues pertaining to licensed nuclear power plants. There are in excess of one hundred such plants in the United States, some of which are subject to litigation before the panel.
Jurisdiction is limited to civilian commercial nuclear power reactors, test and research reactors in the United States. Thus, plants owned by US firms or operated by the US government in overseas location, are exempt.
, and the contentions of Mothers for Peace
with regard to Diablo Canyon Power Plant
. In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, regulatory pressures are expected to increase.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
authorized under the Atomic Energy Act
Atomic Energy Act
Atomic Energy Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom and the United States relating to nuclear power and, or alternatively, nuclear weapons production....
, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel consists of administrative law judges who hear complaints similar to ordinary district court
District court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
except for subject matter jurisdiction which pertains to matters under the Act, specifically, nuclear safety issues pertaining to licensed nuclear power plants. There are in excess of one hundred such plants in the United States, some of which are subject to litigation before the panel.
Scope of authority
Licensing Boards conduct public hearings concerning contested issues that arise in the course of licensing and enforcement. The scope is restricted to nuclear reactors and the civilian use of nuclear materials .Jurisdiction is limited to civilian commercial nuclear power reactors, test and research reactors in the United States. Thus, plants owned by US firms or operated by the US government in overseas location, are exempt.
Mandate
The NRC is charged to protect the public health, safety, and the environment. The ASLB does not look to promotion of nuclear or atomic energy as any concern. It differs from "similar federal regulatory or administrative tribunals" in that the three Board judges usually consist of one attorney and two scientific experts. "Individuals who are directly affected by any licensing action involving a facility producing or utilizing nuclear materials can participate in a hearing..."Current and historic concerns
Matters under adjudication include "early site permits", operating licenses for proposed nuclear reactors, Yucca MountainYucca Mountain
The Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository was to be a deep geological repository storage facility for spent nuclear reactor fuel and other high level radioactive waste, until the project was canceled in 2009. It was to be located on federal land adjacent to the Nevada Test Site in Nye County,...
, and the contentions of Mothers for Peace
Mothers for Peace
San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is a participant in the anti-nuclear movement in California which is depicted in the anti-nuclear Dark Circlefor its activity in the early years of protests against the Diablo Canyon Power Plant...
with regard to Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two Westinghouse-designed 4-loop pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The facility is located on about in Avila Beach,...
. In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, regulatory pressures are expected to increase.
Diablo Canyon Power Plant
DCPP is located in an area proximal to several earthquake faults which have created increasing public anxiety in 2011. As a result,both the operator, Pacific Gas and Electric, annti-nuclear activists, and public officials requested that the litigation before the Board, as well as re-licensing of the plant, to be suspended pending completion of three dimensional seismic studies. This request was granted, with all sides claiming the move as a victory for their respective causes.See also
- Diablo Canyon Power PlantDiablo Canyon Power PlantDiablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two Westinghouse-designed 4-loop pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The facility is located on about in Avila Beach,...
- Diablo Canyon earthquake vulnerabilityDiablo Canyon earthquake vulnerabilityDiablo Canyon Power Plant, located on the water's edge in San Luis Obispo County California, was originally designed to withstand a 6.75 magnitude earthquake from four faults, including the nearby San Andreas and Hosgri faults, but was later upgraded to withstand a 7.5 magnitude quake...
- Mothers for PeaceMothers for PeaceSan Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is a participant in the anti-nuclear movement in California which is depicted in the anti-nuclear Dark Circlefor its activity in the early years of protests against the Diablo Canyon Power Plant...
- Alliance for Nuclear ResponsibilityAlliance for Nuclear ResponsibilityAlliance for Nuclear Responsibility is a non-profit public interest organization founded in 2005, and based in San Luis Obispo, California. It is focused on public citizen activism and public participation with regard to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which some people also call the Diablo Canyon...
- Nuclear safetyNuclear safetyNuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. This covers nuclear power plants as well as all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power,...
- Nuclear safety in the United StatesNuclear safety in the United StatesNuclear safety in the U.S. is governed by federal regulations and continues to be studied by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission . The safety of nuclear plants and materials controlled by the U.S...
- Nuclear energy policy in the United States
- Nuclear energy policy in the United States
- United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
- United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Office of Nuclear Reactor RegulationOffice of Nuclear Reactor RegulationThe Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is known by the acronym NRR. It is a subordinate part of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.which is itself part of the United States Department of Energy....
- Nuclear Regulatory CommissionNuclear Regulatory CommissionThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
- Proposed and finalized federal regulations from the United States Department of Energy
- GovEnergyGovEnergyThe GovEnergy Workshop and Trade Show, commonly known as GovEnergy, is an annual training event for federal facility energy professionals. The event is also attended by private industry professionals who help to monitor and control energy use in federal facilities.GovEnergy is sponsored by seven...
External links
- The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission supervises the US Nuclear industry
- Nuclear Power Safety and Security Information