US nuke chief resigns after spat

The head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced his resignation Monday, just months after a public spat with colleagues over the need for proof of safety in the wake of Japan’s disaster.

Gregory Jackzo said that after three years in the post, it was “the appropriate time” for him to fight for public safety in a different forum.

In February Jaczko was the sole commissioner to oppose the approval of the first new US reactors in decades. He argued for “binding commitments” from business that would address shortcomings highlighted by last year’s Fukushima meltdown.

Regardless, commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the construction of two 1,100 megawatt Westinghouse-Toshiba reactors at a facility in Vogtle, Georgia. Afp, Washington/The Daily Star