Though the Senate Environment and Public Works hearing yesterday on nominating both Allison Macfarlane and Kristine Svinicki to Nuclear Regulatory Commission posts was tempered by the high likelihood of approval for both candidates, two conflicting narratives of the premature end to current Chairman Gregory Jaczko’s term, divided along party lines, persisted. Committee Democrats accused Svinicki of personally attacking Jaczko in her role raising concerns about Jaczko’s management style to the White House last year. Conversely, Republicans supported Svinicki’s record and admonished Jaczko for malignant mismanagement of the agency. Svinicki is up for re-nomination before her five-year term as commissioner expires June 30, and Macfarlane has been nominated to assume the role of NRC chairman after current chair, Gregory Jaczko, abruptly resigned May 21.
Like fellow Democratic champions of Jaczko—including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)—Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) framed Jaczko’s current predicament as retaliation for his voting record as Chairman, and characterized Svinicki as being in the pocket of the nuclear industry. “Commissioner Svinicki has not demonstrated the commitment to safety that the American people have a right to expect in this post-Fukushima era,” Boxer said, adding, “Much more work needs to be done by the NRC in the aftermath of Fukushima. And as I review the activities of the NRC I feel that without the leadership of the current chairman we’d be even further behind on safety than we are.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Jaczko was the victim of "McCarthy-esque tactics." He said, "I happen to think, while I’ve had disagreements with Jaczko, I think he’s done a good job. I am upset about the level of personal attacks that have been waged against him from this committee and within the NRC itself. I believe those personal attacks are a smokescreen for a philosophical divide that existed within the NRC."
Republicans continued to support Svinicki against such attacks, reminding Boxer repeatedly that Svinicki gained unanimous approval from the committee when she was first nominated to the NRC in 2007. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), said, "I don’t want to use McCarthy-ite phrases. We need … to be careful about someone of her integrity and ability in suggesting she has ulterior motives that aren’t there." Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said at the hearing, "The re-nomination of Kristine Svincki to continue to serve the NRC is crucial, especially as the commission enters a tumultuous time of a lack of transparent leadership, to continue to make important decisions in regard to nuclear safety. Given the numerous reports of Chairman Jaczko’s failed leadership at the NRC, it was right of him to resign last month. I’m glad it happened. By removing himself as a distraction to the agency, the commission can once again return to its focus on nuclear safety."
Macfarlane, who was nominated to assume the remaining year of Jaczko’s term by President Barack Obama late last month, was also subject to scrutiny. Several Republican senators broached the topic of management experience, pointing out that Macfarlane has worked largely in academia to this point, a far cry from heading up a 4,000-plus employee agency. Macfarlane’s previously published work, highly critical of the proposed Yucca Mountain geologic repository, was also noted by lawmakers at the hearing. "I have some concerns about her lack of management and nuclear safety experience," Inhofe said. "Additionally, I am concerned about [Macfarlane’s] pre-conceived notions of spent fuel disposal." Sessions noted, "I think a situation has occurred with regard to controversy at NRC and I’m supportive of the idea that we need to move forward. I think it’s the right thing for us to do, to move both these nominations together, though [Macfarlane’s] background is not the kind of background I would normally look for in a chairman of the NRC."
