"Provocative U.S. Nuclear Chief Faces Political Test"

"The embattled chief of the U.S. nuclear safety regulator found some powerful political support on Saturday ahead of Capitol Hill hearings next week that will scrutinize his bid to enact sweeping safety reforms."



"Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is locked in a bitter battle with fellow regulators over how to move forward on expensive changes for the nation's 104 nuclear reactors - reforms prompted by Japan's Fukushima nuclear accident in March.

The four other commissioners at the helm of the agency - two Democrats and two Republicans - took the highly unusual step of writing a formal complaint to the White House that Jaczko's 'behavior and management practices have become increasingly problematic and erratic.'

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid defended Jaczko, a man he helped put into power. Reid dismissed the complaints as 'a politically motivated witch hunt against a man with a proven track record of ensuring that nuclear power is produced as safely and responsibly as possible,' a Reid spokesman said."

Roberta Rampton reports for Reuters December 12, 2011.

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"Private Spat Within U.S. Nuclear Agency Laid Bare" (Reuters)

Source: Reuters, 12/12/2011