nuclear-news

The agency has come under fire during the Trump administration, which has sought to limit its oversight.

In 2018, the U.S. Energy Department issued an order limiting the board’s access to sensitive information it needed for safety inspections. It also required Energy Department employees to “speak with one voice” to the board, discouraging individual workers from reporting safety violations.

Critics say the constraints run counter to the board’s statutory mission of working independently to assess accidents, missteps or unsafe conditions at nuclear weapons facilities to protect workers and the public.

In March, Hamilton wrote a letter to Congress describing how reduced access to information has hampered the board.

“During 2019, the Board experienced challenges and delays in accessing information necessary to perform its responsibilities,” he wrote.

He thanked Congress for stating in the proposed 2021 defense budget that the board’s full authority should be recognized……… https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/top-official-at-nuclear-safety-agency-resigns/article_2e9d333c-ed31-11ea-ba57-1fb63def0647.html