Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
12/12/2014
The Senate confirmed this week Jeffrey Baran to a longer term on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with a 52-40 vote along party lines. President Barack Obama nominated Baran to serve the remaining years left on outgoing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s term, which would expire in June 2018. Baran initially was confirmed to serve out the remainder of former Commissioner William Magwood’s term, which expires next June, but this adds an additional three years to the tenure of the former aide to Rep. Henry Waxman (D- Calif.). Republicans, however, objected to the confirmation, citing Baran’s lack of nuclear experience. They called for an Environment and Public Works committee hearing, but Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) pushed him out of committee without one. Baran officially joined the Commission in October after the Senate approved his nomination in September.
The Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry group, congratulated Baran this week and praised him for his efforts to increase his nuclear expertise. “The nuclear energy industry congratulates Commissioner Baran on his confirmation to a term that extends through mid-2018,” NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel said in a statement. “While the industry would have preferred a normal confirmation process entailing a full hearing, we recognize the political dynamics that led to today’s rather expedited confirmation.” Fertel added, “Commissioner Baran has taken steps to enhance his knowledge of the industry in the short period of time he has been at the agency, and we look forward to supporting that effort in the future. Having a full complement of commissioners and qualified, experienced leadership to lead the NRC is important to the agency’s ability to most effectively fulfill its safety mission.”
Macfarlane announced in October that she would be leaving the Commission at the end of the year to take a teaching position at George Washington University. With Macfarlane’s impending departure, the Commission could stay at a 2-2 gridlock for the foreseeable future on some issues, with Republican Commissioners William Ostendorff and Kristine Svinicki on one side and Democrat Commissioners Baran and Burns on the other.
