NRC TO KEEP RUNNING DURING SHUTDOWN FOR AT LEAST A WEEK

While the rest of the government prepares for shutdown, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will not be affected until at least a week after the shutdown, due to excess funds from its carry-over fund. NRC spokesperson Eliot Brenner confirmed that no furloughs would go into effect for any employees until the funds had been used, which the NRC Chief Financial Officer estimated to be a week after a shutdown. Once those funds have been depleted, the NRC would then join other federal agencies in reducing staff to essential and emergency personnel employees. According to Mark Satorius, executive director for operations, “The planned staffing for NRC ‘excepted functions’ necessary to support emergency operations during a lapse of appropriations is approximately 300 of the agency’s 3,900 employees. Of that number, roughly half are resident inspectors assigned to reactor and fuel facilities.” The Chairman, Commissioners, and Inspector General would be exempted from any furloughs because they are presidential appointees.