Nuclear Energy

Senate Hearing Moves NRC Towards Nuclear Reform, Airs Its Concern for Industry

Zoe Schlanger | August 2, 2011, 4:15PM

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is not as fundamentally split as it previously appeared on the issue of post-Fukushima U.S. nuclear regulation, as a Tuesday Senate hearing showed. By the end of the hearing, the majority of the 5-person commission sounded reasonably ready to vote on at least a few of the recommended safety measures within 90 days.

It is, however, not doing much to dissuade rising murmurs and recent reports that the commission is too close to its industry, as it became evident that the primary roadblock to voting on the recommended safety measures was a concern for the lack of stakeholder input.

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Topics: Barbara Boxer, Bernie Sanders, NRC, Nuclear Energy

Jeffrey Merrifield

Bush Nuclear Regulator Contacted Potential Employers With Business Before Agency

Zachary Roth | October 29, 2009, 5:41PM

A Bush administration official on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which oversees the safety of nuclear sites, is facing a criminal probe after an internal NRC report concluded that he broke ethics rules by approaching companies with business before the agency, and inquiring about employment.

Before his term expired in mid 2007, Jeffrey Merrifield contacted the Shaw Group, Westinghouse, and G.E. about jobs. Twice, he voted on issues that could have affected the financial fortunes of those companies, according to the report by the NRC's inspector general. The case has been referred to the Justice Department.

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Topics: Jeffrey Merrifield, NRC