A coalition of antinuclear groups on Monday called on the Department of Energy to rescind a recent order that could curtail the agency’s interaction with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board: an independent health-and-safety watchdog for nuclear-weapon sites.
“We believe the revised Order 140.1 should be rescinded,” Alliance for Nuclear Accountability President Beatrice Brailsford wrote in a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry, dated Monday. “The current order was issued with no opportunity for public review or comment. Should DOE refuse our request to rescind the order, we request that DOE and NNSA [National Nuclear Security Administration] hold public hearings at each site subject to DNFSB oversight within 90 days to explain to its workers and the public the clear meaning and import of DOE Order 140.1 and to hold the implementation of the Order in abeyance until DOE has heard and considered public comment on the Order.”
The alliance, a coalition of antinuclear groups across the country, published and distributed the letter online a day before the DNFSB is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Washington about Order 140.1.
“Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette will be testifying at tomorrow’s hearing,” a DOE spokesperson wrote in an email Monday.
A DNFSB spokesperson said the board expects William “Ike” White, the acting NNSA deputy administrator, to attend, as well as Matthew Moury, DOE’s associate undersecretary for environment, health, safety and security.
Order 140.1, published in May, directs DOE to “speak with one voice” to the the DNFSB; cements tighter agency control over contractor interactions with the board; and removes a George W. Bush-era directive that contractors treat DNFSB staff courteously.
“Since the Order was approved on May 14, 2018, it has already limited the flow of information from the nuclear security sites to the Board, workers, and the public – creating a chilling effect and endangering worker and public health and safety,” Brailsford wrote.
Editor’s note, 08/28/2018, 2:50 p.m. Eastern: the story was change to include the correct title for Matthew Moury.
