Press Releases

Yesterday, on the fifth anniversary of the 2018 near-canister drop at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Representatives Mike Lawler (NY-17) and Mike Levin (CA-49) reintroduced the bipartisan Increasing Nuclear Safety Protocols for Extended Canister Transfers (INSPECT) Act, H.R. 5115. 

The bill would require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to keep a resident inspector at decommissioning nuclear power plants, like SONGS and Indian Point Energy Center in New York, until all spent fuel is transferred from its spent fuel pools to canisters. It builds on past efforts to learn from failures and improve safety practices at decommissioning power plants across the country.

“Nuclear energy is undeniably a valuable resource that contributes significantly to global energy needs and climate change mitigation. However, when nuclear power plants are decommissioned, there must be transparency and accountability both to restore trust in the value of this energy source and assure the public that safety and environmental considerations remain paramount,” said Representative Lawler (NY-17). “That’s why I’m proud to join my colleague Representative Mike Levin in introducing the bipartisan INSPECT Act, which will assign a resident inspector to each nuclear power plant that has permanently closed and is being decommissioned. This will enable communities and stakeholders to stay informed about the decommissioning progress, potential challenges, and any environmental impacts, enabling collaborative efforts to ensure the safe closure of facilities and the continued pursuit of clean and efficient energy solutions.”

“Since my first day in elected office, one of my top priorities has been to safely remove the spent nuclear fuel from SONGS. It cannot remain there long term,” said Representative Levin (CA-49). “At the same time, we must continue to prioritize the safe management of spent fuel at sites like SONGS, and this bipartisan bill would do so by requiring NRC inspectors to remain on-site during the spent fuel transfer process at decommissioning power plants. We cannot risk another canister incident. As we work to implement full-time NRC inspectors, I will continue to focus on moving the nuclear waste away from our region and garnering bipartisan support in Congress for policies to make this happen.”

Representative Lawler has previously criticized Holtec International for the lack of transparency in its decommissioning of Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan and had urged them to evaluate all possible options for the safe removal of radioactive wastewater. 

"It is imperative that Holtec operate with transparency and that the decommissioning of Indian Point is done in an environmentally responsible way that does not disrupt our Hudson Valley communities or soil our beautiful Hudson River," Representative Lawler said earlier this year. 

New York's 17th Congressional District is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties.