nuclear-news

Dirty work at the crossroads – how the NRC got rid of Gregory Jaczko

Sen. Sanders says ‘McCarthyite’ tactics were used against outgoing nuke chief
The Hill, By Ben Geman – 06/13/12 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Gregory Jaczko is on his way out the door, but Capitol Hill lawmakers aren’t done with battles over his controversial tenure atop the agency.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), at a Senate hearing to vet Jaczko’s replacement, defended the outgoing chairman against the various attacks over his management and behavior that have come from other NRC members and GOP lawmakers. “I am upset about the level of personal attacks that have been waged against him from within this committee and the NRC itself,” Sanders said at the Environment and Public Works Committee hearing.

Defenders of Jaczko — a Democrat who is a former aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) — say the attacks have stemmed from opposition to his nuclear safety efforts.

“Those personal attacks were a smokescreen for a philosophical divide that exists within the NRC,” Sanders, a critic of nuclear power, said Wednesday. “I think he was subject to McCarthyite tactics, and I hope we don’t see a repeat of that.”…. Jaczko announced his resignation in May but will remain with the agency until the Senate confirms his replacement….. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/232539-sen-sanders-slams-mccarthyite-attacks-on-outgoing-nuke-agency-chief

June 14, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA