Nuke chief to face Congress next week

By Andrew Restuccia - 05/22/12 01:42 PM ET

Outgoing Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko will face his Republican critics next week during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing.

Jaczko will testify at the May 31 hearing alongside the other four commissioners, an NRC spokesman confirmed. The commissioners’ behind-the-scenes squabbling over policy and personality matters has tumbled into the spotlight in recent months.

The joint hearing of the committee’s environment and energy subcommittees will focus on Jaczko’s leadership at the commission as well as recent policy decisions, including the panel’s recent approval of the first new nuclear reactors in decades.

Top Republicans on the committee have been some of the most outspoken critics of Jaczko’s leadership, pouncing on allegations that the chairman bullied NRC staff. Jaczko strongly denies those allegations.

Committee Republicans have also blasted Jaczko for closing out a review of the Nevada Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site and for being the lone vote opposing the approval of new nuclear reactors in South Carolina and Georgia.

“We have been actively monitoring the NRC during these tumultuous times and will continue our oversight. With these latest developments along with numerous outstanding issues, we look forward to hearing directly from all of the NRC commissioners,” top Republicans on the committee said Monday in a statement.

Jaczko announced Monday that he plans to step down as NRC chairman after his replacement is confirmed by the Senate. In an interview with The Hill, Jaczko said the criticism of his tenure as chairman did not affect his decision to resign.

“The timing was right. It was just a feeling that now was the right time to make the announcement,” he said, adding that he made his decision within the “last couple of days.”