NRC v. Texas
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in NRC v. Texas and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of NRC v. Texas.
The Supreme Court reversed the Fifth Circuit's decision vacating a license granted to Interim Storage Partners for a nuclear storage facility in Texas. The Court determined that Texas and Fasken Land and Minerals were not entitled to judicial review as they were not parties to the licensing proceeding. The decision emphasized the procedural requirements for obtaining party status in such proceedings.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in NRC v. Texas.
The Court held that Texas and Fasken were not entitled to obtain judicial review of the Commission's licensing decision because they were not parties to the proceeding.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in NRC v. Texas. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Administrative Law is relevant to NRC v. Texas
The case deals with the limits of agency authority and the procedural requirements for obtaining judicial review of agency decisions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Because Texas and Fasken were not parties to the Commission's licensing proceeding, they are not entitled to obtain judicial review of the Commission's licensing decision.
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Why Standing is relevant to NRC v. Texas
The decision focuses on who qualifies as a 'party aggrieved' and thus has the right to seek judicial review, which is a question of standing.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)In the Hobbs Act, Congress specified that only a 'party aggrieved' by a licensing order of the Commission may seek judicial review.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to NRC v. Texas
The case involves the scope of judicial review available for agency decisions and the procedural prerequisites for such review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Ultra vires review could easily circumvent judicial-review statutes, this Court's cases have strictly limited nonstatutory ultra vires review.
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in NRC v. Texas that support the summary and concepts above.
Because Texas and Fasken were not parties to the Commission's licensing proceeding, they are not entitled to obtain judicial review of the Commission's licensing decision.
The Atomic Energy Act indicates that one must be the license applicant or successfully intervene in order to obtain party status in a Commission licensing proceeding.
The Kyne exception is a narrow one that does not apply simply because an agency arguably reached a conclusion which does not comport with the law.
