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USA nuclear lobby aims to oust Gregory Jaczko, safety conscious head of Nuclear Regulatory Commission

it’s also clear that the nuclear industry is using the conflict to attempt to neutralize or remove Jaczko from the NRC, where he has been a consistent advocate for tighter safety controls

Commissioner William Magwood, who is leading the charge against Jaczko, has deep [nuclear] industry ties. His appointment was opposed by over 100 watchdog groups for that reason. Notably, Magwood did consulting work for Tepco—the company that runs the Fukushima plant.

Action and dysfunction in the Beltway swamp. Republicans Intensify Attacks on the Nuclear Safety Chief The Nation George Zornick on December 14, 2011 If there was any doubt that an imbroglio around the leadership of Gregory Jaczko, [at left] chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, would be used to try to force his ouster from that agency, a Wednesday
hearing before a House panel removed it.

All five members of the NRC appeared before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is chaired by Representative Darrell Issa. Four commissioners publicly aired their grievances about Jaczko’s leadership, which include charges of bullying and intimidation of staff, along with refusing to share information with fellow commissioners.

Jaczko said he did nothing wrong, and cited a report from the NRC inspector general clearing him of legal wrongdoing when it came to sharing information among his colleagues. But Republicans went directly for the jugular. “I think you should resign,” Representative
Jason Chaffetz, a Tea Party favorite from Utah, told Jaczko after a
rapid-fire series of questions during which he repeatedly cut off
Jaczko mid-reply. “If you’re going to do the right thing for this
country and this commission, you should step down.” After similarly
berating Jaczko during his questioning, Representative Raul Labrador
told him that “I’ve never seen such self-deluded behavior by any
individual probably in my whole life.”

Already this week, two Republican members of Congress—Representatives
Ed Whitfield and John Shimkus—have called for Jaczko’s resignation.
Others have suggested that Jaczko step down as chairman but remain on
the commission. During the hearing Jaczko said he has “no plans to
resign.”….
it’s also clear that the nuclear industry is using the conflict to
attempt to neutralize or remove Jaczko from the NRC, where he has been
a consistent advocate for tighter safety controls, particularly after
the catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. As we
detailed Monday, on several key votes Jaczko has been the lone voice
for tougher regulations, in opposition to the other four members.

On Monday, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the industry’s main lobby in
Washington, issued a statement echoing the concerns of the four
commissioners and urged the White House and Congress to take
“necessary steps” to correct the problem. And Ryan Grim at the
Huffington Post reported this week that after the controversy erupted
on Friday night, by Saturday morning industry officials were calling
key Democrats and urging them not to back Jaczko.

Moreover, Grim noted that Commissioner William Magwood, who is leading
the charge against Jaczko, has deep industry ties. His appointment was
opposed by over 100 watchdog groups for that reason. Notably, Magwood
did consulting work for Tepco—the company that runs the Fukushima
plant.
Democrats on the panel repeatedly attempted to highlight Jaczko’s
strong regulatory stand, despite a warning from Issa that the hearing
wasn’t supposed to be about nuclear safety but rather effective
personnel management.

“The Republican narrative for this hearing is superficial, political,
and ultimately counterproductive for the health of the nuclear
industry in America,” said Representative Gerry Connolly in written
opening remarks. “By focusing on interpersonal bureaucratic
disagreements within the [NRC], the frame of this hearing presented by
the majority distracts from the more important issue at hand—the need
for a robust, transparent NRC which is necessary to protect the
public.”

The entire commission will again be before Congress tomorrow, this
time before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/165143/republicans-intensify-attacks-nuclear-safety-chief

December 15, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA