The radical reset of the NRC?

Sept 11:

This can't be good news?

Sept 11: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Thursday voted to approve the nominations of Jeffery Baran and Stephen Burns to serve as commissioners on the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a committee staff member said in an email.

Eleven of the 18 members of the committee voted in favor of Baran and Burns: Barbara Boxer of California, the committee chairwoman; Thomas Carper of Delaware; Benjamin Cardin of Maryland; Bernard Sanders of Vermont; Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island; Tom Udall of New Mexico; Jeff Merkley of Oregon; Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; Cory Booker of New Jersey; Edward Markey of Massachusetts; and James Inhofe of Oklahoma. All are Democrats except Inhofe, a Republican, and Sanders, an Independent.

Six committee members, all Republicans, voted against Baran: John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Boozman of Arkansas, Mike Crapo of Idaho, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, David Vitter of Louisiana, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Those six members and Deb Fischer, Republican-Nebraska, voted against Burns.

Sept 9, 2014

Senate hearings

Really, how does our political system keep hiring these say nothing grey bureaucratic types…absolutely no real experience in managing a power plant or fleet? Don’t even have a token safety advocate…

Two lawyers with little hands on nuclear power plant or organizationl experiance. More of the same crap!

Usually how these things goes, is the administration says something like, if you nominate and vote for my choice, then I give you republicans a choice and I will get you the votes to pass your guy.

The deals are all made in the shadows and nobody can understand how the political sausage is made.

This is why the NRC is the way they are.

Jeffery M. Baran, Nominee for Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Jeffery M. Baran is currently Staff Director for Energy and Environment on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, a position he has held since May 2014. Prior to this, Mr. Baran served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce as Senior Counsel from 2011 to 2014, and as Counsel from 2009 to 2010. He served as Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2003 to 2008. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Baran worked as a law clerk for Judge Lesley Wells of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Mr. Baran received a B.A. and M.A. from Ohio University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Stephen Burns, Nominee for Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Stephen Burns is currently the Head of Legal Affairs for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency, a position he has held since 2012. Prior to joining the OECD, Mr. Burns served at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a variety of roles. He was General Counsel from 2009 to 2012, Deputy General Counsel from 1998 to 2009, and Associate General Counsel for Hearings, Enforcement and Administration from 1994 to 1998. Mr. Burns also served at NRC as Director of the Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication from 1991 to 1994, Executive Assistant to NRC Chairman Carr from 1989 to 1991, Legal Assistant to Commissioner Carr from 1986 to 1989, and Deputy Director of the Regional Operations and Enforcement Division from 1986 to 1986. He began his career at the NRC as an Attorney in the Regional Operations and Enforcement Division from 1978 to 1983. Mr. Burns received a B.A. from Colgate University and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law Center.

I don't know what to make of this?

WSJ: President Barack Obama announced Tuesday that he will tap two well-connected energy experts for impending openings on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The White House will soon nominate Jeff Baran, an aide to retiring Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.), who is the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Stephen Burns, a former NRC general counsel, to the commission. Mr. Burns is currently head of legal affairs for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency.

 None of these guys got real power plant experience. At least Burns know the ropes around the NRC. I thought it would go the Obama way, figure out how to dilute his power...pick one to make the liberals happy and the other to make the nukies happy.

RC Commissioner Nominees Must Demonstrate Expertise, Collegiality

Tuesday, July 22nd 2014


WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following is a statement from Nuclear Energy Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin Fertel on two nominations put forward by the White House today to serve on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

"The nuclear energy industry is pleased that the White House has nominated candidates to fill the seats vacated by Commissioner Apostolakis and that will be vacated by Commissioner Magwood. As evidenced by the experience and capabilities of the two departing commissioners, the commission must be comprised of leaders who possess expertise and experience and who act as part of a collegial body committed to efficiently and credibly leading an agency of nearly 4,000 people.

"With the nomination of Stephen Burns, who served as NRC general counsel, President Obama has identified a figure familiar with the commission's responsibilities, processes and culture. Industry recognizes Burns' 33 years of service to the commission—he received numerous positive reviews and was repeatedly promoted. Industry has some concerns regarding certain actions taken by the NRC while Burns served as general counsel, including the chairman's use of emergency authority in the weeks after the Fukushima Daiichi accident and the decision to terminate the Yucca Mountain repository licensing process. The confirmation process will provide ample opportunity for Burns to elaborate on his views. The industry supports the federal court ruling reversing the agency's decision to discontinue consideration of the Yucca Mountain license application. The industry also believes emergency authority should be used only by the NRC chairman in rare circumstances in which other commissioners are unavailable to participate in agency decision-making.

"The nomination of Jeff Baran merits close scrutiny. Although Baran has energy and environmental policy experience, his background includes little, if any, relevant experience with nuclear energy technology or the NRC regulatory process and policies. We look forward to hearing his perspectives on these matters during the confirmation process.

"This is a significant period in the NRC's history. The agency and nuclear energy companies alike are faced with the challenge of sharpening regulatory focus to properly prioritize regulatory issues to ensure that both industry and NRC staff and financial resources are committed to those issues most significant to safety. The ongoing implementation of post-Fukushima safety enhancements is part of this complex mix. The times necessitate that the Senate confirm commissioners with relevant policy expertise who will work collegially with the sitting commissioners.

"The industry is committed to continuing a world-class track record of safe operation. Similarly, maintaining a credible and efficient regulator is essential for an expanded role for nuclear energy in a sound energy and environmental policy for future.