Jeff Brumfield

has one of the strongest nuclear regulators in the world.

It's called the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

And some of these companies think that the NRC has been too strict.

They think the Energy Department will be easier to work with.

One company is Valor Atomics.

It's run by a guy named Isaiah Taylor.

And he told me the NRC just isn't the right regulator for these new reactor designs.

So Valor's part of this Energy Department program, and Taylor says it's just what they need.

But many safety advocates are really worried about this approach, and they're particularly worried that the NRC has no direct oversight.

Well, first of all, the Energy Department has just far fewer staff devoted to reactor safety.

It also hasn't really regulated commercial reactors much in the past.

On top of that, its mission is to develop nuclear power.

Alison McFarlane is a former NRC chair under the Obama administration.

She calls that a conflict of interest.

You cannot promote and regulate nuclear power.

McFarlane and other critics of the program told me they're very worried that safety was being sacrificed for speed.

Now, just one thing to note, these are small test reactors, so if there is an accident, it won't be like Chernobyl or anything huge, but it could still hurt workers or the local environment.

It told NPR that it, quote, upholds the highest standards of safety in our work with the nuclear industry.

It also said NRC staff are working with the department to ensure safety and that it's still shooting for that July 4th deadline.

Four companies of the 11 have already presented their preliminary designs and approvals could come early next year.