A move by the Department of Energy to weaken a decades-old radiation safety standard is testing how far Democrats are willing to go to boost the nuclear industry when public health is at stake.
Earlier this month, POLITICO’s E&E News reported that Energy Secretary Chris Wright circulated a memo proposing an end to the department’s use of the “As Low As Reasonably Achievable,” or ALARA, principle — a cornerstone of federal nuclear regulation dating back to the Eisenhower administration. ALARA is rooted in the assumption that any radiation exposure carries some risk, even at low levels, and that exposure should be minimized unless higher doses are justified by practical considerations.
Often described as the “gold standard” for nuclear safety, ALARA has long drawn criticism from nuclear industry advocates, who argue the policy is overly conservative and imposes costly protections against radiation levels that have not been conclusively linked to adverse health effects.
On Capitol Hill, however, lawmakers — particularly Democrats, who have traditionally taken a more cautious approach to nuclear safety — have largely treated the standard as untouchable.
