27 Jun (NucNet): An investigation from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s inspector general (IG) found cases in which outgoing NRC chairman Gregory Jaczko failed to support an “open and collaborative work environment”.
However, the same report – which covers various allegations against the Mr Jaczko – also found he did not exceed his authority following last year’s nuclear plant accident in Japan.
An executive summary of the report published online says the IG carried out the investigation into four allegations of Mr Jaczko’s “exercise of his authority”.
The main allegation was that following the Fukushima-Daiichi accident in March 2011, Mr Jaczko exceeded his authority by assuming emergency powers. He was alleged not to have kept other NRC commissioners fully informed about events in Japan and failing to complete a timely report to the NRC on actions taken during the crisis.
The IG’s office “identified more than 15 examples of interactions between the chairman and NRC senior executives and commissioners where the chairman’s behaviour was not supportive of an open and collaborative work environment,” says the executive summary.
It notes that senior executives and Mr Jaczko’s fellow commissioners “provided specific examples of what they perceived as intimidating and bullying tactics by Chairman Jaczko so that they would be influenced to side with the chairman’s opinion despite their own judgment”.
Elsewhere, the report looks at Mr Jaczko’s actions in the wake of the Fukushima-Daiichi accident and concludes they were “within the scope of his authorities” and that he made “reasonable efforts” to keep the other commissioners informed.
Mr Jaczko issued a statement yesterday saying the report underscores his belief that his actions were consistent with his responsibilities and authorities, and “certainly that there was no wrongdoing”.
In May 2012, Mr Jaczko, a Democrat, announced his intention to resign as NRC chairman after a replacement had been nominated and confirmed by the Senate.
President Barack Obama has nominated as his successor Allison Macfarlane, an associate professor of environmental science and policy at George Mason University in Virginia.
