Washington, DC - Today, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, wrote to President Obama to commend him for calling on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the safety of all nuclear power plants in the United States.

Senator Boxer said: "I share President Obama's view that public safety is the federal government's top priority, and I commend him for calling for a full evaluation of all U.S. nuclear facilities. As the NRC commences its comprehensive review, I told the President that I believe that it is critically important to focus immediately on all plants subject to significant seismic activity or located near a coastline, on the 54 plants that were licensed prior to 1980, and on those plants licensed after 1980 that share similar characteristics as the compromised reactors in Japan."

Earlier this week, Senator Boxer and Senator Tom Carper sent a letter to NRC Chairman, Dr. Gregory Jaczko, requesting a prompt and comprehensive investigation of all of the nation's nuclear facilities to assess their capacity to withstand catastrophic natural or man-made disasters. Senator Boxer also sent a letter with Senator Feinstein to the NRC regarding two reactors in the State of California.  Both of these letters are attached below.

Text of the letter to President Obama is below, and a pdf of the letter is attached below:


March 18, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

Thank you for your efforts to provide all necessary assistance to the Japanese government as it struggles to address the catastrophic and heartbreaking impacts of a massive earthquake and tsunami. My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the American people, go out to all citizens of Japan, and especially to the families of the thousands of disaster victims.

In light of the tragic events unfolding in Japan, I commend you for calling on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of the safety of all nuclear power plants in the United States. I share your view that public safety is the federal government's top priority, and that a full evaluation of all U.S. nuclear facilities should be conducted immediately.

As the NRC commences its comprehensive review, I believe that it is critically important to focus immediately on all plants subject to significant seismic activity or located near a coastline, on the 54 plants that were licensed prior to 1980, and on those plants licensed after 1980 that share similar characteristics as the compromised reactors in Japan.

After the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee was briefed this week by the NRC Chairman, Dr. Gregory Jaczko, Senator Tom Carper and I sent a letter requesting that the NRC conduct a prompt and comprehensive investigation of all of the nation's nuclear facilities to assess their capacity to withstand catastrophic natural or man-made disasters. The letter to Chairman Jaczko asks the NRC to respond to specific questions about plant design and operations, type of reactor, and preparedness to withstand an earthquake or tsunami. Senator Feinstein and I also sent a letter to the NRC regarding two reactors in the State of California.

I look forward to working with you to protect the health and safety of the American public by ensuring that the nation's nuclear facilities are as safe and secure as possible.

Sincerely,

 

Barbara Boxer
Chairman
Committee on Environment and Public Works

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