Senator Markey gives shocking statistics on NRC whistle-blower harassment

Hearing on the NRC`s Implementation of the Fukushima Near Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and maintain nuclear safety.
US Senate committee on environment and public works

4 June 2014
Senator boxer began by highlighting her concerns about the Spent Fuel Pool safety at San Onofre and the major fire that caused the decommissioned plant to evacuated in the recent fire that threatened the nuclear plant. She also asked if the plants operator`s request to waiver their commitments on plant safety would be upheld as the NRC had not turned down a request for a waiver in all the years that this procedure had been in place.
Senator Boxer brought up the fact the plants had been shut down and took the NRC to task when they said that there have been no major safety issues. Senator Boxer said that the Japanese said the same thing before Fukushima.She also had concerns about the seismic testing post Fukushima and confirmed that no new reviews had been put in place. She asked how long before the new seismic report would be completed and was told 2018.
Senator Marky brought up the fact that these assessments were problematic and said it was irresponsible to wait until 2018 with the fuel pool in place.
Senator Marky then mentioned the issue of Chinese hacking and the NRC rules on letting the Chinese workers from the shadow program walk around. The NRC denied that it would let them walk around according to its rules but didnt understand how they were able to walk around.
During the question and answer session Senator Marky brought up the issue of whistleblowers from the NRC being persecuted by staff and managers. He came up with some shocking statistics
Whilst the NRC said that there was a free and open procedure for complaints and issues to be raised by whistle-blowers, Senator Marky said that he had received many complaints from NRC staff and held an NRC report that had not been made public. In that report he said that ;

“A staggering 75 percent who used the procedures said they received a poor performance appraisal after they raised their whistle-blower concerns”
“ Two thirds said they were excluded from work activities by the management”
“25 percent were past over for promotion”
“25 percent were even verbally abused by their colleagues and their supervisors”

He went on to say that “These results are shameful”
And then commented that “I had an oversight committee in 1981 and an on-site at San Onofre in 1983 and this whole pattern just continues at the agency and it is troubling, especially since Fukushima. It is important for this culture to change and I am afraid that it has not”

The full 2 hour debate can be found on this link.
Lots of interesting comment and rebuffs and the pro nuclear lobbyists want nuclear to combat climate change without mentioning the wind solar hydro thermal words once..

http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=a3e6c0c8-e443-7540-8820-0d43fbc55022