URGES COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PUBLIC MEETINGS

 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today welcomed the response he received from NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko to Rep. Markey’s call last autumn for greater transparency in the NRC decision-making process.

“I am thrilled with Chairman Jaczko’s desire to return transparency to the deliberations of the NRC.  These steps would reflect the emphasis President Obama has placed on transparency and open government, and promote the public understanding of, and participation in, our nuclear regulatory processes,” said Markey.  “I urge the Commission to rapidly move forward with this important initiative.”

 
In an October 2009 letter to the NRC, Rep. Markey stated that “as an independent regulatory agency operating in a democracy, the Commission has an obligation to conduct the public’s business in public to the fullest extent possible…  Members of Congress must cast their votes in public, and there is no reason why the NRC cannot join other independent regulatory agencies in doing the same.”

In a response to Chairman Markey, Chairman Jaczko wrote, “To ensure that the Commission conducts its work with the utmost openness and transparency, I agree that the Commission should conduct more of its business through public meetings where Commissioners deliberate and vote on matters under consideration.”  Chairman Jaczko also indicated that he believes that decision-making via public meetings offer several advantages over the current behind-closed-doors “notation voting,” including a greater public understanding of the NRC’s internal workings, open access to the deliberative process of the Commission, and a streamlining of voting procedures.   

 
A copy of Chairman Jaczko’s response to Markey can be found here: http://markey.house.gov/docs/jaczkonrc-transparency-responses.pdf

A copy of Chairman Markey’s October 2009 letter can be found here: http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3784&I...

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