Pennsylvania’s Radiation Protection Act strengthens safety at the state’s nuclear power plants by giving the Department of Environmental Protection the responsibility to monitor, inspect, and respond to radiation risks.

The Department continuously measures environmental radiation around nuclear sites, sends qualified staff into plants to observe safety conditions, and develops independent monitoring systems that can quickly detect problems. It also prepares emergency response plans and keeps both state leaders and the public informed.

These responsibilities create multiple layers of protection that help prevent accidents and safeguard communities. Strong, visible oversight also builds public confidence in nuclear energy, which is essential to maintaining a reliable power supply, given that approximately  a third of Pennsylvania’s electric generation comes from its nuclear plants.

The Department's safety programs are funded through fees paid by the operators of the nuclear plants. Unfortunately, those fees, whose amounts are written into the law itself, have not been adjusted since 2014. As a result, inflation has made it increasingly difficult for the Department to carry out its duties using the funds collected.

Our legislation will set appropriate fees, ensuring the state has the resources needed to maintain thorough oversight, keep monitoring systems up to date, and respond quickly and effectively to any safety concerns, which will strengthen public confidence in an important industry.

Please join Representative Fiedler and me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.