FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

1978 Senate Hearings on Nuclear Waste Management Authority

Original title: Nuclear waste management:hearings before the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, second session, on S. 2761, a bill to delegate power to the states, through their state legislatures, to disapprove certain specified activities licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and for other purposes, S. 2804 a bill to expand the licensing and related authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for certain specified activities, and for other purposes, S. 3146 a bill to expand the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission over nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities, and for other purposes, March 22, April 4, 5, June 14, and 20, 1978.

July 19, 2026

nuclear energy waste management federal-state relations regulatory authority environmental policy

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

These hearings established the legislative foundation for how nuclear waste facilities are licensed and the extent to which states can intervene in federal nuclear regulatory decisions.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State Legislatures

The proposed legislation would grant these bodies the authority to disapprove specific nuclear activities licensed by the federal government.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The proposed bills would either expand or limit the agency's jurisdiction and licensing authority over nuclear waste facilities.

What changed

Last recorded activity July 19, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document records a series of 1978 Senate hearings regarding three proposed bills that would alter the regulatory authority of the and state governments over nuclear waste storage and disposal. The hearings explored the balance of power between federal agencies and state legislatures in approving or disapproving nuclear activities.

Key Facts

The hearings took place on March 22, April 4, April 5, June 14, and June 20, 1978.
S. 2761 proposed delegating power to state legislatures to disapprove specific activities licensed by the NRC.
S. 2804 proposed expanding the licensing and regulatory authority of the NRC.
S. 3146 proposed expanding NRC jurisdiction to include nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities.
The hearings were held by the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Committee on Environment and Public Works during the 95th Congress.

Why It Matters

These hearings established the legislative foundation for how nuclear waste facilities are licensed and the extent to which states can intervene in federal nuclear regulatory decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the main purpose of these hearings?

The hearings were held to discuss three bills aimed at redefining the roles of the federal government and state governments in regulating nuclear waste storage and disposal.

Did these bills give states more power?

S. 2761 specifically proposed giving state legislatures the power to disapprove certain activities licensed by the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Related Legislation

hearing_transcript