Senators press NRC over rulemaking transparency and an alleged 'steering committee'

Ranking Member Whitehouse used his opening to press the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on transparency around rulemakings and the role of the White House review process (OIRA). He asked why some rule drafts go to OIRA before a public vote and demanded a list of votes the commission has taken since the executive order directing interagency review.

Whitehouse described reports of a three-member "shadowy steering committee" and asked whether the group reported to the commission, the Department of Energy, or the White House. He warned that any off-chart management structure could undermine public trust and congressional oversight.

Chairman Ho Ni said the steering committee is a temporary project-management body established to oversee the overall project management of drafting multiple rules related to Executive Order 14300; he said two members are NRC employees (the executive director for operations and the general counsel) and a third is a detailee. Ni told the committee, "I assure you there is no shadow commission. We each individual member of the commission, we own our votes and decisions." He added that the committee coordinates rule development but does not write the rules themselves.

On OIRA, commissioners said interagency review occurs before draft rules are published and that public comment periods remain part of the formal process after publication. Whitehouse pressed for the committee to receive vote tallies and for future notifications on returning-rule votes so congressional oversight can track deliberations.

The committee requested that NRC provide the requested vote list and an organizational chart that shows where the steering committee functions and to whom it reports.