Attorney General Bonta Critiques Trump Administration’s Proposal to Relax Decommissioning Timeline Regulations at Nuclear Facilities

OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a multistate comment letter opposing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) proposed rulemaking that would relax decommissioning processes for nuclear power plants and facilities, giving owners and operators more leeway on when they start and finish decommissioning after the plant ceases operations. The proposal would not keep nuclear plants and facilities operating longer but could result in a longer decommissioning process that could harm the environment. The comment also opposes NRC's proposed regulations for groundwater contamination at "in situ recovery" (ISR) uranium mines. California does not have ISR or other uranium mines because it lacks significant uranium deposits, but the comment expresses and supports the concerns of New Mexico and other states with ISR uranium mines that the proposed regulatory framework will lead to groundwater contamination and harm local communities. The proposed rulemaking is part of the Trump Administration's efforts to expand nuclear facilities nationally at a pace that puts speed before safety. In today's comment letter, the coalition argues that the proposed changes require greater consideration of environmental risks, that the proposed rules violate the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Administrative Procedure Act, and that NRC must not abridge the rights of states with ISR mining.

"Californians deserve power generation that achieves reliability without sacrificing public health and environmental integrity - one does not discount the other. Nevertheless, the Trump Administration again appears to prioritize its business interests at the expense of health and safety," said Attorney General Bonta. "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."

Nuclear energy is an important source of energy in many states, but the fundamental nature of this powerful technology involves environmental and public health risks. On September 10, 2026, the NRC published notice of its new proposed rulemaking known as "In Situ Recovery Monitoring and Decommissioning Timeliness." Among other things, the proposal institutes requirements for groundwater cleanup at ISR uranium mines and amends regulations to streamline and relax the decommissioning process for nuclear plants and facilities, including Diablo Canyon in California. Of particular concern to California, the proposed rule would remove the current requirement that a licensee requesting a decommissioning deadline extension demonstrate that the extension would not be detrimental to public health and safety. As seen with other recent NRC proposed rulemakings, the proposed rules prioritize the industry's desire to move quickly over public and environmental safety.

In the comment letter, Attorney General Bonta and the coalition assert that:

• The NRC's proposed rule prioritizes business interests over public and environmental safety.
• There is no good justification for the proposed change that would allow plants to obtain an extension of the decommissioning completion date without demonstrating that the extension would not be detrimental to public health and safety and is in the public's interest.
• The proposed rule would violate NEPA because NRC did not conduct adequate environmental review, even though the proposal includes substantive changes, including changing definitions and deleting the public-health finding for extensions.
• The proposed rule's streamlined processes would allow licensees to leave groundwater contamination at legacy ISR mines while potentially preventing the host state from taking action to repair damages.
• The NRC did not consult sufficiently with states and Tribes affected by ISR mines.

In sending today's comment letter, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, and Massachusetts.