IN LETTER TO CHAIRMAN JACZKO, MARKEY CALLS FOR COMMISSION TO OPEN VOTING PROCESS

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today sent a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko, calling for the Commission to open its decision-making process to public examination.  Unlike other independent regulatory agencies, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not vote in public.

“There is absolutely no reason why the NRC’s deliberations should be shrouded in the type of secrecy that characterized the old Soviet Politburo,” Markey wrote in the letter. “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.” 

 

Markey also expressed concerns about the use of notation voting, through which Commissioners privately circulate different versions of written decisions along with their “yes” or “no” vote.  This practice has greatly curtailed the ability of the public to hear open debate on critical issues affecting nuclear reactors, materials, and waste regulation. 

 

“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,” Markey wrote.

 

In 2005, Markey offered an amendment to the Energy Advancement and Conservation Act to encourage the NRC to either hold more public meetings or for the results of non-public meetings to be made public, consistent with the requirements of the Sunshine Act, which sets public transparency standards for federal agencies.

 

The full text of Markey’s letter is below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 06, 2009

 

The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko

Chairman

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

11555 Rockville Pike

Rockville, MD 20852

 

Dear Chairman Jaczko,

 

On September 28, 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced new steps intended to more fully open the Commission’s decision-making process to public examination.  I applaud your decision to release your voting records and views on current NRC matters in a timely fashion, which I believe will help foster a climate of transparency at the Commission.  This first step is consistent with President Obama’s commitment to openness at the federal level, in order to, “strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government,” as stated in his Transparency and Open Government memorandum.

 

While these are significant steps, I hope they are only the beginning of a larger movement towards a more open decision-making process as the Commission considers issues vital to the nation’s health, safety and security.

 

While other independent regulatory agencies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, generally vote in public meetings on pending regulatory matters, orders and other action items, it is my understanding that the NRC does not.  In fact, to the best of my knowledge, the Commission has not held a public voting meeting since 1990. 

 

I see absolutely no reason why the NRC’s deliberations should be shrouded in the type of secrecy that characterized the old Soviet Politburo.  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.  That is in keeping with what other independent regulatory agencies already do.

 

I am also greatly concerned about the use of notation voting as the dominant mode of decision-making at the Commission, something which has greatly curtailed the ability for the public to hear open and collegial deliberation on issues affecting nuclear reactors, materials, and waste regulation.  Notation voting reinforces an unfortunate impression of secrecy surrounding the Commission’s deliberations, something which I fear has harmed public confidence in the NRC and its mission.  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.

 

As you may know, I have long had concerns about the degree of openness and transparency at the Commission.   I believe that your recent actions to bring more openness to NRC proceedings are a valuable step towards maintaining the integrity of and public confidence in the Commission.

 

Since your internal Commission procedures already provide clear directives for the public evaluation of papers presented by your staff, I look forward to seeing truly open and deliberative sessions held by the Commissioners in the near future.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

 

                                                                        Sincerely,

 

 

                                                                        Edward J. Markey

                                                                        Chairman

 

 

 

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