Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman to discuss lessons of Japanese disaster, July 18 luncheon

Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, will address a National Press Club luncheon on Monday, July 18.

Jaczko will talk about lessons learned by the nuclear power industry in the aftermath of Japan’s March 11 Fukushima nuclear disaster, which stands as the most serious nuclear accident since the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. The NRC is scheduled to meet on July 19 to consider a report on the Fukushima disaster and how it pertains to the U.S. nuclear industry.

In May 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Jaczko chairman of the NRC, where he had served as a commissioner since 2005. Before Fukushima, Jaczko and the commission had been working to reinvigorate the U.S. nuclear sector. Electric utilities had been planning to begin building nuclear plants again after 30 years of inactivity. But in light of the Japan disaster, new questions have been raised.

Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. with the speech beginning at 1 p.m. and ending at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for Club members, $29 for guests of members and $36 for general admission. To reserve tickets, please e-mail [email protected] or call 202-662-7501. Payment is required at the time of reservation.

National Press Club Luncheons are webcast live on www.press.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #NPCLunch, or on Facebook at (facebook.com/PressClubDC) and Twitter (@PressClubDC).

Submit questions for speakers in advance and during the live event by sending them to @QNPCLunch on Twitter, or email a question in advance, with JACZKO in the subject line, to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on July 18.

Upcoming luncheons:

June 30 – Gary Sinise, Oscar-nominated actor, The Gary Sinise Foundation - Sold Out

July 1 -- Charles F. Bolden Jr ., administrator, NASA, with special guest astronaut Mark Kelly

July 13 -- Ted Leonsis, owner, Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards

July 15 -- Tim Armstrong, chairman and CEO, AOL, and Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief, The Huffington Post.