Legislation would create dedicated public engagement office and program to lower financial barriers to participation
Bill Text (PDF) | One Pager (PDF)
Washington (June 25, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Public Engagement and Participation (NRC OPEP) Act, which would promote transparency and proactive engagement between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and members of the public, and remove barriers to participation in NRC adjudicatory processes. Specifically, the bill would establish an Office of Public Engagement and Participation within the NRC and create an intervenor compensation program for individuals, community-based organizations, and local governments participating in Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel proceedings on behalf of the public interest. Representative Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced related companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
“As independent agencies like the NRC come under attack by the Trump administration, we must defend open and transparent federal decision-making. The NRC should proactively and meaningfully work with communities living at the frontline of nuclear energy infrastructure and make its regulatory processes more accessible,” said Senator Markey. “The NRC OPEP Act would enable the Commission to carry out these responsibilities by creating a new, independent office dedicated to centering and uplifting community voices, while also breaking down financial barriers that limit public participation through needs-based, up-front compensation.”
“Communities across the country impacted by nuclear power, safety, and waste deserve to have their voices heard by the regulatory agency in charge of handling important nuclear safety issues. Unfortunately, too often there is no clear line of communication between the public and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That must change,” said Rep. Levin. “This bill could not be more necessary as the Trump Administration is encroaching on the independence of the NRC and seeking to build out more nuclear power while cutting communities out of the process. I thank Senator Markey for his partnership, and I look forward to building bipartisan support for this bill.”
“In light of the Trump Administration's attacks on the independence and integrity of the NRC, robust public participation in the agency's licensing processes is more critical than ever. Senator Markey's bill would help ensure that protection of public health and safety remains the agency's priority,” said Edwin Lyman Director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“The people who live and work near nuclear reactors bear the burden of increased health and safety risks so that energy can be generated and used by society at large. All nuclear host communities deserve to take advantage of the opportunities legally guaranteed to they perceive that a regulatory decision may harm them,” said Sarah Abramson, Executive Director of C-10 Research and Education Foundation. “Without the passage of this bill to create an NRC Office of Public Engagement and Participation, such public participation will continue to be an issue of the haves vs. have nots, with communities that have fewer inherent tools and funds being significantly limited in their ability to meaningfully participate as a stakeholder in decisions that may affect their health and safety.”
The NRC OPEP Act directs the NRC to establish an Office of Public Engagement and Participation within 180 days, led by a Director appointed by the NRC Chair who has the authority to fulfill their duties without undue influence. The goals and responsibilities for the new Office include:
The bill would also allow for compensation to individuals representing the public interest in Commission proceedings, providing an opportunity for up-front compensation to ensure that intervention is accessible to those representing the public interest that often lack the resources required to participate.
This legislation is endorsed by the C-10 Research and Education Foundation and the Union for Concerned Scientists.
In today’s Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the renomination of David Wright to serve as Chairman of the NRC, Senator Markey highlighted the importance of protecting robust public engagement processes in agency licensing and regulatory processes and asked Wright to commit to fulfilling the NRC’s obligation to keep communities informed and involved.
Senator Markey has consistently urged the NRC to prioritize safety and public participation in the Commission processes. He first introduced the NRC OPEP Act in October 2024. In March 2024, Senator Markey and Representative Levin led a letter to NRC Chairman Christopher Hanson to encourage the NRC to proactively establish a new office to boost the agency’s public outreach, engagement, and participation activities.
In September 2022, Senator Markey sent a letter to the NRC urging the Commission to prioritize public safety and increase community engagement in the process for decommissioning nuclear power facilities, like those in Plymouth, Massachusetts and across the country.
As the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth commenced its decommissioning process, Senator Markey has continued to work to ensure that the NRC prioritized safety and public participation in the decommissioning process. In April 2024, Senator Markey led a letter alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) and Representative Bill Keating (MA-09), urging Holtec to meaningfully consider concerns raised by local officials and members of the public regarding the disposition of radioactive wastewater stored at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. In May 2022, Senator Markey held a field hearing in Plymouth with Representative Keating, entitled “Issues Facing Communities with Decommissioning Nuclear Plants.”
###
