U.S. NRC Blog
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After
nearly eight years on the Commission, I am announcing my resignation as
Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effective upon the
confirmation of my successor. My responsibility and commitment to safety
will continue to be my paramount priority after I leave the Commission
and until my successor is confirmed.
After
an incredibly productive three years as Chairman, I have decided this
is the appropriate time to continue my efforts to ensure public safety
in a different forum. This is the right time to pass along the public
safety torch to a new chairman who will keep a strong focus on carrying
out the vital mission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
During
this last year alone, the agency has responded with an impressive focus
on safety under my leadership to a number of diverse challenges
including the accident at the Fukushima Da-ichi reactors in Japan, and a
number of severe incidents at reactors in the United States ranging
from flooding, an earthquake and tornados to damaged plant structures
and steam generator problems. In addition to this vigilant oversight,
together we identified and began to implement lessons learned from
Fukushima and completed our rigorous safety reviews for the first new
reactor licenses in 30 years.
Throughout
my time on the Commission as both Chairman and Commissioner, the agency
finalized regulations to ensure new reactors are designed to withstand
an aircraft impact, completed the development and implementation of a
safety culture policy statement, enhanced our focus on openness and
transparency, and enhanced awareness of and worked to resolve some of
the most long-standing generic issues facing the nuclear industry,
including sump strainer issues and fire protection. Beyond the power
reactor work, substantial progress was made in establishing a more
transparent and effective oversight program for fuel cycle facilities.
In addition, radioactive sources of concern are now fully protected with
our new security regulations and source tracking system. We stand as a
stronger and more decisive regulator now because of these years of
efforts. I am truly humbled by the agency’s success.
Serving
the American people as the Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission has been an honor and privilege. The mission of this agency –
protecting people and the environment, and providing for the common
defense and security – could not be more clear, or more critical. Our
collective focus on that mission was, I believe, one of the primary
reasons the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was one of the best places to
work in the federal government throughout my tenure. The highly talented
and dedicated professional staff, including dozens who have served on
my personal staff over the years, have been instrumental in fulfilling
the agency’s mission.
I
will always be grateful for the opportunity of having served alongside
the staff for all of these years, and for all that we accomplished
together. I am looking forward to bringing all I have learned from my
work and focus on safety at this agency with me as I move forward.
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