Nominee to Replace Jaczko as NRC Chief to Be Quizzed on Wednesday

A geologist with expertise in arms-control issues is poised to fill the spot on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission left by outgoing chief Gregory Jaczko,

The nominee is Allison Macfarlane, associate professor of environmental science and policy at George Mason University.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.—chairwoman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works—will hold a hearing Wednesday in Washington on President Barack Obama’s nominee, also designated as chairwoman to replace Jaczko.

Also on the hearing agenda is the reappointment of Commissioner Kristine Svinicki.

The makeup of the commission will doubtless be closely watched by Southern California Edison, local government and anti-nuclear group officials alike in light of problems and ongoing inspections at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station just south of San Clemente.

The plant has been shut down since exposed what some say are

A webcast of the hearing will be available at this link starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday Pacific Time.

Regulators and plant officials .

Meanwhile, NRC officials will

Macfarlane, according to her biography on the George Mason website, has a academic background dominated by the study of nuclear policy issues.

In addition to an MIT doctorate in geology, the prospective appointee has served stints at Harvard and Stanford in positions dealing with international arms control and policy.

Macfarlane serves on the White House’s Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, and chairs the board on Science and Security for the Bulletin of Atomic Science.

She also serves on various other boards and panels dealing with nuclear security, and published a book in 2006, Uncertainty Underground: Yucca Mountain and the Nation’s High-Level Nuclear Waste, according to her bio.