The attorney general’s office said on Nov. 10, 2026, that Attorney General joined two multistate comment letters opposing recent U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission rulemakings that would reduce federal oversight of radioactive byproduct materials and of reactor construction, operation and decommissioning.
The office described two separate actions. One is a direct final rule the NRC published on Oct. 5, 2026; the office said it would expand the number and amounts of byproduct materials that a person or facility could use without obtaining a license. The other is a proposed rule the NRC announced on Sept. 24, 2026; the office said it would move regulatory standards from concrete, criteria‑based rules toward risk‑based approaches and would change several requirements for licensees.
According to the attorney general’s office, the proposed rule would: change financial‑qualification and decommissioning trust fund rules so a licensee must only appear financially qualified; reduce the public’s opportunity to comment on planned decommissioning activities; eliminate nonemergency reporting requirements; and loosen earthquake planning requirements for current and future license applicants.
The office said the two rulemakings would reduce independent oversight and public transparency and would allow licensees greater latitude to decide what actions need NRC approval. The letters assert the NRC violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Administrative Procedure Act by acting beyond its authority and by failing to provide adequate analysis and time for public review.
Bonta said, "When nuclear energy is concerned, deregulation is risky. Nuclear energy is an important source of energy in some states, but our homes and communities deserve safe power generation that doesn’t loosen seismic design changes or unjustifiably exempt more radioactive byproduct material from licensing."
Bonta tied the opposition to the administration's push to expand the nation's fleet of nuclear facilities under Executive Order 14300. "States like California are aware of the vulnerabilities with aging nuclear reactors, including the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station that was shut down in 2013," he said.
State
Rob Bonta
Attorney General · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
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