Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
7/17/2015
The Obama administration this week nominated Jessie Roberson to fill the vacancy on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Roberson, who currently serves as Vice Chair of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, would return the commission to its full five members. If approved by the Senate, she would represent the third new commission member within the last year, following the departures of former commissioners William Magwood, George Apostolakis, and Chair Allison Macfarlane. Roberson has worked for DNSFB since 2010, and she also previously served as Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management from 2001 to 2004 under the Bush administration. Her NRC term would last through June 2020.
The nuclear industry, as represented by the Nuclear Energy Institute, praised the selection, citing Roberson’s wealth of nuclear experience. “Her relevant experience with nuclear energy technology aligns well with the NRC’s mandate to ensure the safe operation of the nation’s nuclear energy facilities,” NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel said in a statement. “The nuclear energy industry believes the nation is best served by a fully functioning, five-member commission to carry out the NRC’s safety mission, and looks forward to learning more about Ms. Roberson’s views during the confirmation process.”
