Rep. Markey has been leading an investigation into alleged problems with the safety culture at some NRC regional offices that have resulted in retaliation again staff who disclose safety concerns. Below is a timeline of his efforts and links to letters sent to Rep. Markey by whistleblowers, Rep. Markey's letters to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the NRC’s responses.
April 24, 2012: Letter from Region IV staff to Rep. Markey
May 9, 2012: Letter from Rep. Markey to the NRC calling on the Commission to initiate an independent and public investigation of the allegations.
Jul 23, 2012: NRC response to Rep. Markey's May 9 letter.
May 30, 2012: 2nd letter from Region IV staff to Rep. Markey indicating their lack confidence in NRC’s Inspector General (IG) to assist in the investigation and resolution of their claims.
June 4, 2012: Letter from Rep. Markey to the NRC describing new claims from whistleblowers, which include staff employed in more than one of NRC’s Regional offices, and repeating call for an independent investigation into NRC’s safety culture.
July 23, 2012: NRC response to Rep. Markey's June 4 letter.
September 19, 2012: 3rd letter from Region IV staff to Rep. Markey reporting that no request for documentation had been forwarded to Region IV staff by NRC for documents related to the IG assessment of whistleblower allegations.
October 2, 2012: Letter from Rep. Markey to the NRC again requesting documentation related to investigation of allegations of safety culture violations and work retaliation in Region IV.
November 5, 2012: NRC response Letter to Rep. Markey's October 2 letter.
January 8, 2013: Letter from Rep. Markey to the NRC again requesting documentation related to the safety culture violations in Region IV.