Monday, April 17, 2017

How To Make It Trump's Nuclear Regulartory Commission

I think having half democrat and half republic commissioners dilutes political accountability. I'd get rid of it.

I think this scenario is really cool.

1) Let the clock run out on Svinicki. She is out. I know now Svinicki is really popular with house republicans.  

I don't know how the "going full nuclear" works out in the Senate and House? Would these guys get voted in by 51 votes instead of 60 votes in the senate. I think this is drastically going to change the environment of the commissioners. There is a lot of political horse trading going on outside the nuclear industry with nominating a NRC commissioner. It is never just a nuclear industry focus thing.   

I doubt the democrats would approve any nominee in these times. Could the republicans overwrite the enabling legislation of the NRC? End up with its only up to the president to elect the NRC commissioner with the senate's 51 votes.

2) Drop the even split republican and democrat thing.

3) Now you have only 2 commissioners. Then stack the deck with the new Trump three commissioners.

Big picture, I like the idea if something big happens, it would make the politicians and parties accountable no matter what political party.

You get what has happened here, the NRC initial legislation, it weakened political accountability as a favor to the big utility boys who owned nuclear plants.    

House Energy and Commerce Committee representatives urge Trump to Fill Nuclear Regulatory Commission Vacancies

Published on April 17, 2017 by Daily Energy Insider Reports          

Three U.S. representatives on the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting that he fill current and future vacancies on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in order to maintain a quorum.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR), Subcommittee on Energy Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), and Subcommittee on Environment Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) jointly sent the request.
“We urge you to nominate commissioners to the NRC so the confirmation process may be completed as
soon as possible and provide the NRC a full contingent of commissioners to fulfill its critical mission in overseeing and regulating the civilian use of radioactive material,” the representatives said.

If no new commissioners are nominated and confirmed before July 1 when Chairman Kristine Svinicki’s current term expires, the NRC will lack a quorum, which is necessary to conduct necessary legislative action. The commission requires at least three of the five seats to be filled with no more than three members from the same political party in order to maintain a quorum. There are currently two vacant seats on the commission.
“Absent a nomination and confirmation of additional commissioners, the Commission will lack a quorum on July 1 when Chairman Svinicki’s current term expires,” the representatives said. “This situation could severely inhibit the NRC’s ability to execute its vital responsibility and hamper the nuclear industry.”

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