Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
9/19/2014
The Senate this week confirmed two new members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, bringing the NRC back to its full five-member contingent. Steven Burns previously worked for the NRC, rising to General Counsel under then-Chairman Gregory Jaczko, but left in 2012 for a position with the Nuclear Energy Agency. Jeffrey Baran previously served as an aide to House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) while also serving as Democratic staff director for the Energy and Environment Subcommittee. Burns and Baran were nominated by the Obama Administration to replace George Apostolakis, who was not renominated to the NRC when his term expired in June; and William Magwood, who left the Commission to serve as director general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency.
Both Burns and Baran were approved largely on party-line votes late this week soon after clearing the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Burns was approved by a vote of 60-40; while Baran was approved by a vote of 56-44. It appears that part of the motivation for the quick vote on both nominees was the desire by Senate Democrats to ensure they were able to fill the open spots on the Commission before the upcoming November Congressional elections.
Nominees Celebrated by Industry and Lawmakers
The NRC and the Nuclear Energy Institute praised the Senate for moving quickly to confirm Burns and Baran and restore the Commission to its full five members. “We look forward to having a full Commission once again,” NRC spokesman David McIntyre said. NEI President and CEO Marvin Fertel added in a statement: “The safe performance of nuclear energy facilities and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s credibility are the two most important factors for policymaker and public confidence in nuclear energy. Jeff Baran and Stephen Burns join a commission that, under the leadership of Chairman Allison Macfarlane, is addressing the key policy matters before it with a committed spirit of collegiality. My colleagues and I in the industry look forward to working with the new commissioners and their colleagues for the betterment of our nation.”
Democratic lawmakers from both houses of Congress also celebrated the vote. “I am so pleased that the full Senate has confirmed Jeffery Baran and Stephen Burns to be Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) said in a statement. “As long as I have been around, I have not seen two more qualified individuals for this position and I believe they will help lead the NRC in a way that will increase the level of confidence the American people have in the safety of the nation’s nuclear facilities.”
Waxman (D-Calif.) especially celebrated the approval of his former aide. “Jeff Baran will be an enormously effective NRC Commissioner,” Waxman said in a statement. “He is an exceptionally talented individual and an extremely capable consensus-builder. He is fair and open-minded, and his judgments are fact-based. I know the NRC will benefit from having him serve as part of its leadership.”
