Sen. Bernie Sanders says he’s "extremely disappointed" that the chairman of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, who frequently clashed with other members as he pushed for reforms in the nuclear industry, has announced his resignation.
Sanders reacted Monday to news of Gregory Jaczko’s departure by saying he has appreciated and will miss the chairman’s recognition that the NRC’s job is not to promote nuclear power, but to be a strong safety regulator.
Jaczko called for reforms in the industry, especially following last year’s Fukushima disaster in Japan. He’s also come under fire from Republicans in Congress.
Sanders is a member of the Senate committee that oversees the NRC, and says he hopes President Barack Obama will pick a successor for Jaczko who will be also be a strong regulator.