POGO Not Cheering for Obama's Pick of a Nuclear Power Cheerleader for Vacant NRC Seat

While the halls of government buildings were mostly empty and newsrooms were essentially cleared out, at 5:03 p.m. last Friday, October 9, 2009, at the start of the three-day Columbus Day weekend, the White House announced a nomination to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Despite the attempt of the Obama Administration to not call attention to its pick of William D. Magwood for the post of Commissioner on the NRC, POGO was paying attention and is calling on Congress to do the same, as Magwood will soon be facing confirmation hearings.

In a letter sent yesterday to Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Senators Barbara Boxer and James Inhofe, POGO expressed its opposition to Mr. Magwood’s nomination. Given his more than a dozen years promoting nuclear power, we just don’t think he is cut out to be a regulator of the industry.

He served as the Associate Director of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, and then, for four years, as the Director. Issues he promoted include the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership and reprocessing of nuclear waste, both programs President Obama canceled because of nuclear proliferation concerns.

Since retiring from government service in 2005, Magwood has been actively involved in efforts to advance nuclear industry business opportunities domestically and abroad. He founded Advanced Energy Strategies which provides “expert advice and analysis of U.S. and international energy policy activities; nuclear industry developments and prospects; and supporting business development efforts.” Magwood has also been an investor in and President of Secure Energy North America Corporation, a company that is “working with industry and investors to develop novel approaches to finance new nuclear power stations in the United States.” There is very little public information on the web about either of these two companies. POGO is asking Congress to request all contracts and relevant documentation that will detail exactly what Magwood was advising his clients.

A bit of a history lesson: the NRC was created when the Atomic Energy Commission was abolished in 1974and split into two agencies because its dual missions of promotion and regulation of nuclear power was recognized as an inherent conflict of interest. As a result, DOE was given the role of promoting nuclear power (largely in the office that Magwood ran for seven years), while the NRC was created to regulate, inspect, and enforce regulations of the nuclear power industry. We fear that the appointment of Magwood would be a step back towards the bad government model of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Instead, the American public needs a Commissioner with a demonstrated background that would make them an effective regulator. The most notable lack on the NRC is an expert who specializes in security. The NRC could also benefit from the perspective of an appointee with experience in the nuclear Navy, a state level regulatory body, or a public interest group. Unfortunately, the new nominee does not fit the bill.

-- Ingrid Drake

Comments

[Posted on: Oct 16, 2009 at 04:49 PM]

POGO is not anti-nuclear, but we are pro-regulation. We agree that Magwood is well-qualified as a proponent of nuclear power, but we don't believe he is well-qualified to be a regulator of nuclear power.

[Posted on: Oct 16, 2009 at 10:22 AM]

Opposition to Bill Magwood? He is extremely well qualified for the job and would be an excellent Commissioner. Is POGO anti-nuclear?