Press Release-07-002, NRC Commissioner Edward Mcgaffigan to Leave Agency

Press Release-07-002: NRC Commissioner Edward Mcgaffigan to Leave Agency

ML070080109
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Issue date:	01/05/2007
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-07-002
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.07-002 January 5, 2007 NRC COMMISSIONER EDWARD McGAFFIGAN TO LEAVE AGENCY ROCKVILLE, MD - Nuclear Regulatory Commission member Edward McGaffigan, Jr., a 31-year veteran of public service and member of the Commission since 1996, announced today he will leave the regulatory body upon the confirmation of a successor.

McGaffigan, 58, announced his intention in letters to President Bush and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, dated Jan. 4, 2007. The longest-serving member in the NRCs 32-year history and the only member to have served over 10 years, McGaffigan is undergoing treatment for metastatic melanoma. Copies of the letters are attached.

Ed McGaffigan has made exceptionally valuable contributions to the work of the NRC over the past decade. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, said NRC Chairman Dale Klein.

Commissioner McGaffigans current biography is available on the NRCs web site (www.nrc.gov ).

News releases are available through a free list serve subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html . The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link.

E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.

January 4, 2007 The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I have had the high honor of serving my country in a variety of federal civilian positions for almost 31 years. You gave me my most recent opportunity by appointing me to my third term as a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in 2005. I deeply appreciate your confidence in me.

Unfortunately, for the past six months I have been battling an aggressive recurrence of metastatic melanoma. My life expectancy is limited. Therefore, I will resign upon the confirmation by the Senate of the successor whom you nominate. My hope is that you will be able to pair the nomination of my successor with that of Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifields successor and that will in turn ease Senate confirmation of your nominees and help maintain a full five-member Commission. I had hoped to be an element of stability at NRC as the Commission faces enormous challenges in the years ahead. I fear now that I will contribute to instability at the worst possible time.

Thank you, again, for this last opportunity to serve my country.

Sincerely, Edward McGaffigan, Jr.

January 4, 2007 The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader United States Senate 528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Reid:

I have today submitted to the President my resignation as a Commissioner at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), effective upon the confirmation of my successor.

I deeply appreciate your support for my nomination to a third term on the Commission in 2005. I feel like I am letting you and the President down. But the melanoma which reappeared last July is marching on and I no longer have any prospect of defeating it.

The NRC faces enormous challenges in the years ahead. It is vital that every effort be made to maintain a full five-member Commission. My resignation, combined with the end of Commissioner Jeffrey Merrifields term on June 30, will allow for the pairing of the two successors whom the President nominates in the Senate confirmation process. My hope would be that the Commission will not drop to three members on July 1.

Thank you so much for this last opportunity to serve my country and for the warm letter you sent in November when I became the longest serving Commissioner in NRCs history and received NRCs Distinguished Service Award. I wish you all the best in your service to the Nation as Senate Majority Leader starting today.

Sincerely, Edward McGaffigan, Jr.

Enclosure:

Letter to The President