The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.1978 Senate Hearings on Nuclear Waste Management Authority
Record date · July 19, 2026
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What This Bill Does
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.
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 It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
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.
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.
Show all 5 facts
- The hearings were held by the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Committee on Environment and Public Works during the 95th Congress.
Frequently Asked Questions
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Federal-State Regulatory Balance
The hearings highlight a 1978 legislative effort to shift nuclear regulatory power from a purely federal model toward a model involving state-level oversight.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz5Current news / social attention level
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