STATEMENT OF NRC CHAIRMAN GREGORY B. JACZKO

After nearly eight years on the Commission, I am announcing my resignation as 

Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, effective upon the confirmation of my 

successor. My responsibility and commitment to safety will continue to be my paramount 

priority after I leave the Commission and until my successor is confirmed. 

After an incredibly productive three years as Chairman, I have decided this is the 

appropriate time to continue my efforts to ensure public safety in a different forum. This is the 

right time to pass along the public safety torch to a new chairman who will keep a strong focus 

on carrying out the vital mission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

During this last year alone, the agency has responded with an impressive focus on safety 

under my leadership to a number of diverse challenges including the accident at the Fukushima 

Da-ichi reactors in Japan, and a number of severe incidents at reactors in the United States 

ranging from flooding, an earthquake and tornados to damaged plant structures and steam 

generator problems. In addition to this vigilant oversight, together we identified and began to 

implement lessons learned from Fukushima and completed our rigorous safety reviews for the 

first new reactor licenses in 30 years.

Throughout my time on the Commission as both Chairman and Commissioner, the 

agency finalized regulations to ensure new reactors are designed to withstand an aircraft impact, 

completed the development and implementation of a safety culture policy statement, enhanced 

our focus on openness and transparency, and enhanced awareness of and worked to resolve some 

of the most long-standing generic issues facing the nuclear industry, including sump strainer 

issues and fire protection. Beyond the power reactor work, substantial progress was made in 

establishing a more transparent and effective oversight program for fuel cycle facilities. In 

addition, radioactive sources of concern are now fully protected with our new security 

regulations and source tracking system. We stand as a stronger and more decisive regulator now 

because of these years of efforts. I am truly humbled by the agency’s success. 

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: www.nrc.gov

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No. 12-060 May 21, 2012
Serving the American people as the Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission has been an honor and privilege. The mission of this agency – protecting people and 

the environment, and providing for the common defense and security – could not be more clear, 

or more critical. Our collective focus on that mission was, I believe, one of the primary reasons 

the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was one of the best places to work in the federal 

government throughout my tenure. The highly talented and dedicated professional staff, 

including dozens who have served on my personal staff over the years, have been instrumental in 

fulfilling the agency’s mission. 

I will always be grateful for the opportunity of having served alongside the staff for all of 

these years, and for all that we accomplished together. I am looking forward to bringing all I 

have learned from my work and focus on safety at this agency with me as I move forward.

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