Openness is all the more important for decisions in highly technical areas, because otherwise the public has scant opportunity to understand the issues or to participate in a meaningful way. Openness is the spice that helps to make difficult decisions more palatable. The NRC historically has had a good record in this regard, but we are nonetheless working to improve our interactions with the public because improvement is always possible. We want the public to continue to have confidence that the NRC will carry out its mission to protect health and safety in the public interest, and we are investing in our staff and in programs to enhance that trust. Trust, however, is a fragile commodity.
Responsible openness is the key to building and maintaining trust in regulatory programs.
Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you today. I look forward to our continuing discussions of this important topic.