Weaver NRC reappointment gets OK, Senate vote next

Weaver

Background: Weaver was sworn in on December 22 as a commissioner for a term ending June 30, filling the vacancy left by commissioner Annie Caputo when she resignation in July. With Ho Nieh's appointment and confirmation as NRC chair-also toward the end of last year-the NRC was back to its full five members.

Weaver is one of only a handful of former NRC staff members to serve on the commission, having worked for nearly 20 years at the agency. He has three decades of nuclear regulatory expertise in the NRC and in the private sector, is a former vice president of nuclear regulatory affairs at Westinghouse Electric Company, and more recently has been running his own nuclear regulatory consulting firm.

What was said: During Wednesday's committee hearing, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.) supported Weaver's reappointment, saying, "Commissioner Weaver will be integral to decisions impacting the future of our energy sector and we have confidence in his expertise and fitness for the role."

"To achieve our goal of deploying more nuclear energy faster without losing sight of safety, we will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to hold the commission accountable," added Cramer, who filled in for EPW Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R., W. Va.).

Sen. Shelden Whitehouse (D., R.I.) was a "yes" vote on Weaver just like he was during his first appointment. But he remained skeptical of the Trump administration's involvement in and around changes at the NRC. Whitehouse said he recently met with Nieh and was reassured the commission would remain independent.

"I do not see a reason at this time to alter my support for Mr. Weaver's renomination, but I will continue to keep a close watch on the conditions at the agency," said Whitehouse, the minority's ranking member on the EPW Committee. "I hope Mr. Weaver will maintain his nonnegotiable posture on NRC's independence and its safety mission. America's burgeoning nuclear industry depends on it."