[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S7448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF JEFFREY S. MERRIFIELD

 Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, the Honorable Jeffrey S. Merrifield 
will be leaving the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, on June 
30, 2007. Originally from Antrim, NH, Jeff Merrifield has served as a 
member of the Commission since October 23, 1998. First appointed by 
President Clinton, Jeff was reappointed by President Bush and was sworn 
in for a second term on August 5, 2002. After a distinguished 
government career at the NRC and on Capitol Hill, Jeff Merrifield has 
chosen to pursue endeavors in the private sector.
  Throughout his tenure at the NRC, Jeff Merrifield has invested 
considerable time in familiarizing himself with the operations of NRC 
licensees, visiting all 104 operating power reactors in the United 
States, as well as numerous nuclear materials facilities and sites 
undergoing decommissioning. Jeff actively supported initiatives to 
improve the transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of NRC 
regulatory programs. He headed an NRC Communications Task Force charged 
with initiating and implementing many recommendations to improve agency 
internal and external communications. Jeff also led an interagency task 
force of fifteen departments and agencies to identify gaps in the 
control and use of radiation source materials as required by the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005. Recommendations of this task force were detailed in 
a report to the President and Congress.
  Jeff Merrifield has advocated a vision of excellence in regulating 
the safe and secure uses of nuclear material for the public good. A 
participant in the development of NRC's Strategic Plan, he championed a 
number of significant regulatory improvements, including efforts to 
risk-inform regulations, provide discipline in staff review of 
applications for license renewal, and prepare the agency for potential 
new power reactor applications. Recently Jeff chaired a Combined 
License Review Task Force which made a number of recommendations to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the review of new reactor 
applications. He was the leading advocate for the use of the alternate 
dispute resolution process in agency enforcement actions and has taken 
a special interest in improving the management of decommissioning 
funding.
  As an NRC Commissioner, Jeff Merrifield was actively involved in the 
agency's post September 11, 2001, response activities. These actions 
resulted in a significant improvement in security at NRC licensed 
facilities. Both before and since the terrible events of 9/11, NRC 
licensed power reactors are some of the best protected facilities in 
the civilian community.
  Recognizing the NRC's influence in the international regulatory 
community, Jeff has traveled abroad to discuss policy issues with 
nuclear regulators and foreign dignitaries in more than 35 countries 
and has toured more than 140 nuclear reactors overseas. In 2005, he led 
an NRC delegation to India for the fifth bilateral exchange between the 
Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the NRC. This was the first 
visit to India by a member of the Commission following President Bush's 
initiative ``Next Steps in the Strategic Partnership'' with India. Jeff 
was also the major advocate for the establishment of a three-nation 
agreement with Canada and Mexico on nuclear materials and waste issues 
through periodic trilateral meetings.
  Mr. President, please join me in thanking Jeff Merrifield for his 
dedicated service to the American people and in wishing him and his 
family all the best in their future pursuits.

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