Reid plans to hold up NRC selection

Suzanne Struglinski

Friday, Sept. 5, 2003 | 9:47 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., will place a hold on President Bush's pick for a seat on the five-member Nuclear Regulatory Commission after the White House rejected his science adviser for another spot on the panel.

Bush officially nominated Navy Vice Adm. John Grossenbacher for the Republican spot on the NRC on Thursday, although he announced the intention to nominate him in July. Grossenbacher currently serves as commander of the U.S. sbmarine frces in the Atlantic, but is set to retire this year.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., sent a letter to the White House earlier this year recommending Gregory Jaczko, Reid's principal nuclear adviser, for another open seat generally reserved for a Democrat. Jaczko has worked extensively with Reid on efforts to defeat the Energy Department's Yucca Mountain project, about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. DOE aims to store 77,000 ton of spent nuclear fuel there despite tremendous state opposition.

But Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said in April the White House sent a letter back rejecting his nomination, calling for another Democrat.

Reid said this morning that he placed the hold "because the White House has a decision to make."

"They can choose him, a well-qualified individual or they can pick their buddies with the utilities," Reid said.

Reid, who sits on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which oversees the NRC, said there is no plan to recommend any other Democrat than Jaczko.

"He's the best we can find," Reid said. "He's young, he's dynamic."

Reid said there is nothing specific about Grossenbacher he opposes and that he "looks good on paper."

Mitch Singer, spokesman for the Nuclear Energy Institute, said the industry's objection to Jaczko's nomination is not personal but he is perceived as having a conflict of interest because of his work for Reid on Yucca Mountain.

"The most important thing is that no one has bias one way or another," Singer said.

The commission will be the regulatory body that will determine if the Yucca site will more forward. The department plans to submit its NRC license application for the site, about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, in December 2004. The commission then has three years to approve the site before construction could begin.