Sen. Carper Statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

WASHINGTON – Today Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), released the following statement after media reports of discord among the NRC Commissioners:

“For over a decade, as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I have worked closely with the men and women who have served on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As Chairman of the subcommittee responsible for nuclear safety, I have been particularly interested in the effective operation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. During the past year, I have sought to improve the tenor of relationships among the five current commissioners of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. While I am discouraged that those efforts have not been as successful as I would have hoped, I am confident that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will continue its critical mission – ensuring the safety and reliability of our nation’s nuclear reactors now and in the future. Recent disagreements among commissioners, while significant, have not impacted nuclear safety, nor should they. While I am disappointed that the five commissioners – each talented and capable in their own right – have been unable to come together as a cohesive body, I also understand that when issues as important as those facing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are being considered, differences of opinion will emerge. I fully expect that the commissioners will continue to carry out their duties. Moving forward, I will continue to encourage cooperation and collegiality among the commission members and most importantly, that Congress provides the tools and resources the commission needs to carry out its mission of protecting public safety through responsible nuclear regulation.”

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