The state attorney general’s office said Attorney General joined a multistate comment letter opposing a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed rule that would relax timelines for decommissioning nuclear plants and set new rules for groundwater at in situ recovery uranium mines.
On Sept. 10, 2026, the NRC published notice of the proposed rulemaking called “In Situ Recovery Monitoring and Decommissioning Timeliness.” The proposal would amend decommissioning rules for nuclear plants and add requirements for groundwater cleanup at ISR uranium mines; Diablo Canyon in California is named among the facilities covered by the proposal.
The comment letter argues the proposed rule would let licensees obtain extensions of decommissioning completion dates without demonstrating the extension would not be detrimental to public health and safety; the coalition also asserts the NRC did not conduct adequate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and failed to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act.
The comment letter further contends the streamlined processes could allow legacy ISR mines to retain groundwater contamination while limiting a host state’s ability to address damage; California does not have ISR or other uranium mines, but the letter says the state supports concerns raised by New Mexico and other states with ISR operations.
“Californians deserve power generation that achieves reliability without sacrificing public health and environmental integrity,” Attorney General Bonta said. “These proposed changes would make it easier for industry to delay completion of decommissioning and they also would risk long-term groundwater contamination in states with ISR uranium mines, thereby weakening the safeguards protecting our environment and public health. I’m proud to join this coalition in opposing these changes and strongly urging the administration not to move forward with this plan.”
The attorney general’s office said the coalition includes the attorneys general of New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois and Massachusetts. The comment letter asks the NRC to give greater consideration to environmental risks, to consult with states and Tribes affected by ISR mines, and to refrain from adopting the proposed changes as written.
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 3 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
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