The primary theme of the Nuclear Power Plant Safety Act of 2011 is to start a national regulatory process to “ensure that nuclear power plants can withstand and adequately respond to earthquakes, tsunamis, strong storms or other events.” That legislation, introduced March 29 by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), also calls for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to issue license extensions while the commission revises regulations to shore up the facilities. California’s Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is in the midst of an attempt to extend its license for 20 years. The bill aims to increase back up power, move spent fuel rods from pools to dry cask storage after a year, and expand emergency response exercises.