Nuclear fallout: Pettiness of four NRC commissioners threatens country’s safety

Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 | 2 a.m.

A hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill provided quite the spectacle: Four members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission bemoaned the behavior of commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko — as they flanked him in a hearing room.

They complained that Jaczko bullied other commissioners and kept them in the dark about his decisions. They pointed to an inspector general’s report that described incidents of rude and angry outbursts. It was a hearing more fit for Dr. Phil than C-SPAN, but then they claimed that Jaczko’s actions were endangering the safety of America’s fleet of nuclear reactors because the commission’s work had been stifled.

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee feigned shock and outrage — rude behavior? In Washington?

Gasp!

It is laughable to think that some members of Congress have the audacity to complain about another government body being plagued by bullies, angry tirades or dysfunction. (Don’t they have mirrors?) Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the committee’s top Democrat, said it best: “Congress isn’t functioning very well at all. So I don’t want to sit here and tell you how to conduct your business.”

However, hypocrisy wasn’t going to stop his colleagues, some of whom demanded Jaczko apologize and some of whom called for Jaczko’s resignation.

There is no allegation that Jaczko has done anything illegal so, has Jaczko stifled work and put the safety of Americans at risk because of a poor management style?

No.

This year alone the commission has held 48 meetings, 14 planning sessions and made dozens of official decisions. That doesn’t sound like commissioners are getting shoved aside or left in the dark.

There’s a larger issue: Jaczko has attracted controversy because he has championed safety at the country’s aging nuclear power plants and stood up to the industry’s crusade to make Nevada a nuclear waste dump.

The industry isn’t used to opposition — the NRC has long been its lap dog. Commissioners are typically intertwined with the nuclear power industry, having championed or promoted it before accepting their appointments. And commissioners and staff often take lucrative jobs in the industry after leaving the NRC, so there’s little incentive for any real oversight. Why bite that hand that will feed you?

Because Jaczko has dared to act independently, he has been attacked by the industry, by members of Congress and by his colleagues.

The striking point for all of this goes back to the meltdown of the nuclear power plant in Japan earlier this year. Jaczko took control of his agency, as he is allowed to do, and called for a task force study of how to improve safety in American nuclear power plants.

The other commissioners have balked at Jaczko’s push for safety, showing themselves to be petulant and contrary, and that’s the real problem at the NRC.

Earlier this month, Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., released a report that shows that the four other commissioners conspired against Jaczko and tried to undercut safety measures that have come from the task force’s study. In internal documents, Jaczko’s four colleagues vowed to “regain control” of the commission and “not support” Jaczko’s plans. In public, they complained that Jaczko wasn’t providing them information but the emails show otherwise. The report says that Jaczko had to cancel briefings and meetings because other commissioners refused to participate.

And Jaczko’s critics want him to resign?

If anyone is endangering the public, it’s not Jaczko. He may need to put some polish on his management skills, but there is no need for change in the chairmanship. He has stood up for the public by trying to ensure the safety of the nation’s reactors. His colleagues, meanwhile, have been in a snit and should be ashamed. They should apologize and start following Jaczko’s lead.