Knowledge vs. Facts: Regulatory Oversight and Safety

Ann Stouffer Bisconti, PhD

Bisconti Research, Inc.

April - May 2024

Safety is a top public concern, and this concern is mitigated by information about controls—how nuclear power plants are kept safe. These controls include physical barriers and regulatory oversight.

The 2024 survey found that only 18 percent of respondents were aware that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors each nuclear power plant every day.  That fact was surprising and judged highly important, as was information about physical barriers. 

These findings are from questions asked in the 2024 National Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Survey. The new national survey was conducted from April 30 to May 2, 2024 by Bisconti Research, Inc., using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 people drawn from the Quest Mindshare Online Panel of 3.5 million people in the U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Knowledge

 To the best of your knowledge, how often does the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitor each U.S. nuclear power plant to make sure the plant meets federal safety requirements?

 Correct answer is every day[1]

Facts

Here are some facts about nuclear energy.

• Please rate each fact on how much it is new and surprising to you.

• Please rate each fact on its importance.

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspects and monitors each nuclear power plant daily. If a nuclear power plant is not operating safely, the regulator will order changes or shut it down. (%)

Advanced-design nuclear power plants are safer because they have more automatic shutdown mechanisms, new kinds of physical barriers, and new and advanced fuel. (%)

[1] The NRC installs resident inspectors at all plants to monitor their performance at all times.

© Ann Stouffer Bisconti, 2024.