Regulatory Capture and the NRC

Observers raised concerns over the effectiveness and the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission long before the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima in Japan this past spring. President Obama, for one, said the agency has "become captive of the industries that it regulates" while on the campaign trail in 2007. But the Japanese nuclear disaster has focused a new spotlight on the commission and its ability to effectively oversee nuclear safety. In this project, investigative journalist Michael Blanding will conduct insider interviews, public records requests, data analysis, and on-site reporting to examine the extent and means of institutional corruption within the agency-as well as possibilities of reform. The NRC poses a unique case study: On the one hand, the chances of a nuclear disaster are admittedly minute, causing complacency among both the public and regulators that weakens incentives for strong oversight. On the other hand, the consequences should a nuclear accident occur are so catastrophic, public interest demands oversight be as rigorous as possible. Recognizing this, recent calls for reform may make this next year a pivotal one. In the wake of the Fukushima, two high-profile commissions were convened: one led by the NRC recommended sweeping policy changes to improve reactor safety, and one by the Energy Department offered a comprehensive solution to the pressing problem of managing nuclear waste. With political pressure to show results before the one-year anniversary of Fukushima next April, this may be the best time in decades to tackle the agency's track record of weak oversight and coziness with the industry it regulates. This project will track the progress and challenges of both of these reform efforts in several feature-length articles for national publications over the coming year.

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