AFTER JACZKO RESIGNATION, NRC’S OSTENDORFF LOOKS AHEAD

By ExchangeMonitor

In light of the resignation of Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko last month, NRC Commissioner William Ostendorff said yesterday he is optimistic about the future of the Commission. Ostendorff emphasized the importance of the decision last fall by the four commissioners to send a letter to the White House complaining of Jaczko’s management practices. Jaczko resigned in late May, and the Administration promptly nominated Allison MacFarlane to chair the Commission. Ostendorff said he hoped for a confirmation hearing for Macfarlane and a reconfirmation hearing for Commissioner Kristine Svinicki by the end of the month. “So moving forward I think we have a path to get there. In spite of the challenges we’ve had in the Commission, four of us have gotten along extraordinarily well,” he said yesterday in remarks at the Energy Facility Contractors Group Executive Council Meeting. He added, “None of the disagreements have been based on policy disagreements. None. They have all dealt with what we saw as improper, inappropriate leadership management techniques and abuse of the staff. We were not going to sit by and be silent.”

Ostendorff said that he has stressed to NRC staff the importance of safety culture, an open collaborative work environment and the need to be able to raise issues without fear of retribution. He added that he hoped those issues will be addressed by a new Commission. “I know we have not done all we can do. But the time for us to move forward is after these confirmation hearings with a new Commission in place,” he said.

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