By ending the ALARA principle, DOE opens the door to science-based radiation regulation that could restore nuclear power’s competitiveness. 

Last fall, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the audience at Senator John Curtis’ (R-UT) conservative climate summit that “nuclear is going to become sexy again.” For policy wonks and proponents of modernizing outdated nuclear regulation, there may be nothing sexier than reforming the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle. 

The Linear No-Threshold (LNT) model and the ALARA principle are two elements that have guided US radiation standards for decades. While well-intentioned, outdated radiation standards have imposed unnecessary costs, slowed innovation, and reinforced public fear for years, while providing little to no benefit to the environment or public health. Reform is not merely desirable; it is a strategic necessity and essential for improving the economic outlook for nuclear power.

This week, E&E News reported that the Department of Energy (DOE) will end the use of the ALARA principle. The timing is critical because the United States is striving to meet growing energy needs, accelerate the deployment of advanced reactors, and maintain global leadership in energy innovation. A welcome next step would be for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to follow DOE’s lead. 

Background on Radiation Standards in the United States

The LNT hypothesis emerged from experiments on fruit flies in 1927 conducted by Hermann Muller, which showed radiation can induce heritable mutations. Interpreted amid Cold War........

© The National Interest