President Barrack Obama late last week nominated current-Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Jeffrey Baran to serve the remaining years left on departing NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane’s tenure. Macfarlane’s planned departure at the end of the year would end before her term expires in June of 2018. Baran initially was confirmed to serve out the remainder of former-commissioner William Magwood, whose term expires next June, but if confirmed, this would add an additional three years to the former Rep. Henry Waxman (D- Calif.) aide’s time on the Commission. Baran officially joined the Commission last month after the Senate approved his appointment back in September.
Baran’s nomination, though, has drawn the ire of Senate Republicans. Environment and Public Works Ranking Member David Vitter (R-La.) criticized the additional years for an “inexperienced” Baran. “The President’s nominee to ensure the safety and success of our nuclear future visited a nuclear facility for the first time in his life this summer,” Vitter said in a statement. “It is vital to the security and reliability of our nation’s energy needs for the members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be independent, thoughtful, and highly qualified. Baran clearly lacks that experience, and we need to hold a full EPW committee hearing.”