The House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Dec. 14 called for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to resolve internal differences. The hearing came after four of the five commissioners wrote a letter to the White House revealing concerns that the falling out among management is getting to the point that it may affect future decision making. In a hearing that revealed some partisan rancor, committee ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said, “We beg you to work this out. The American people are tired of dysfunction--they’re certainly tired of us.” The committee basically was calling commission chair Greg Jaczko on the carpet for his temper, and how it is affecting the agency. Many on the committee said they are concerned regulators’ internal disputes could affect the safety of the nation’s nuclear power plants. Under oath, Jaczko said his outbursts stemmed from his “passion for safety.” Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) asked for his resignation. Committee chair Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) echoed that request. Issa called the commission chair’s conduct “demoralizing to the agency.” Jaczko repeatedly refused to resign. The four commissioners who wrote the letter to the White House were also queried under oath. Of them, only commissioner George Apostolakis showed some support, indicating that the atmosphere wasn’t quite so poisoned as it appears and that differences could be worked out.
