SENATE PANEL TO VOTE ON CONFIRMATION OF NRC NOMINEES TODAY

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today is planning to consider the nomination of Allison Macfarlane to chair the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the renomination of Kristine Svinicki to another term on the Commission.  The meeting comes with Kristine Svinicki’s term set to expire June 30, while Macfarlane was nominated to head the agency on May 24, just days after current Chairman Gregory Jaczko’s sudden resignation. Last week the Committee held a confirmation hearing for the two candidates during which senators largely expressed support for the timely confirmation of both nominees. Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has been highly critical of Svinicki, a Republican, while Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) has questioned Macfarlane’s qualifications. However, the confirmation of both could be a deal between lawmakers that would replace Jaczko after his controversial reign and keep a full complement of five commissioners serving on the NRC. The panel plans to take up the issue in a business meeting off the floor after the first vote of the day.