Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer "grilled" NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko on "whether the agency is prioritizing the review of nuclear reactors in seismically active areas, notably California's Diablo Canyon Nuclear power plant and San Onofre nuclear generating station," Environment & Energy Daily reported this morning. Jaczko told the committee the commission is evaluating both facilities as part of a 90-day review of all 104 U.S. power-plant reactors as the result of information gleaned from the accident in Japan. Boxer said she did not sense an urgency by the U.S. government to address the issue, but "applauded the proactive steps the utilities in California are taking."
Wrote the newsletter: "Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Monday it will accelerate advanced 3-D seismic studies related to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear power plant and has asked NRC to delay final action on its license renewal application for the reactors until the studies are complete, according to a statement the company released."
During the hearing, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., accused Jaczko of "inappropriately invoking emergency authority after the Japanese disaster," the newsletter wrote, adding: "Inhofe said Jaczko cited emergency authority to transfer commission functions to himself in the wake of the Japanese crisis and failed to inform the Senate committee of such actions."
Environment & Energy Daily, April 13.
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