Administration shelves plan to let nuke contractors choose safety rules
By Nancy Zuckerbrod
ASSOCIATED PRESS
6:09 p.m. February 23, 2004
WASHINGTON – The government shelved a proposal Monday that would have let contractors at federal nuclear facilities pick which safety rules they should follow.
The idea had come under fire from lawmakers, a government safety board and
even some contractors themselves. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said in a letter to John Conway, chairman of independent Defense Nuclear Safety Board, that he was suspending the drafting of new regulations for implementing the proposal to get more suggestions.
Abraham said he was "deeply concerned by the perception" that the rule proposed by the agency two months ago would have endangered workers.
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20040223-1809-nuclearworkers.html