Committee Examines Impact of Obama Administration’s Nuclear
Export Control Policies on American Competitiveness and Nuclear Safety
March 26, 2013
Committee
Leaders Request DOE Provide Information Regarding Effect of Regulations
on American Manufacturing, Job Growth, and Nuclear Security
WASHINGTON, DC –
Strengthening its oversight of the Obama administration’s nuclear
export policies, House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders today
wrote
to Energy Secretary Steven Chu seeking information to evaluate changes
to federal regulations regarding the export of civilian nuclear
technologies and services. The committee is requesting information
regarding recent applications under the Part 810 export licenses, the
processes used to finalize reviews, and what changes are being
considered to increase American international commercial opportunities.
“We seek to examine how current policies and Administration efforts
affect opportunities for enhancing or expanding U.S. manufacturing and
competitiveness, both for strengthening domestic job growth and for the
benefit of U.S. influence over international nuclear safety and nuclear
security,” wrote full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Vice
Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX),
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA),
Subcommittee Vice Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX), Energy and Power
Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY), and Environment and the
Economy Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL).
The leaders continued, “We understand that, for the first time in 25
years, the Department of Energy (DOE) is revising the Federal
regulations that apply to civilian nuclear exports, 10 C.F.R. 810 (Part
810). These revisions may substantially change the scope and
requirements for approval of exports of nuclear technology and services,
with direct implications for U.S. nuclear-related commerce. To assist
us in evaluating the impact of new U.S. nuclear export control
regulations and DOE’s implementation of these regulations, we request
information relating to the regulatory process, reviews, and
decision-making concerning nuclear export licenses, as implemented
through the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA).”
The committee requested that the Department of Energy provide
answers, requested documents, and a staff briefing by April 12, 2013.
To read the full letter to DOE, click
HERE.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/press-release/committee-examines-impact-obama-administrations-nuclear-export-control-policies
