Is NRC really that open? It is not.

Over a year ago, Borchardt of the NRC told my Senator Risch about NRC's openness and that I could get public information by directly contacting NRC staff instead of asking Senator Risch to get the facts.  It does not work that way, as readers may surmise from my entry of September 28, 2013.

Here is what Borchardt told Senator Risch: 

ADAMS, ML12059A117

March 1, 2012

The Honorable James E. Risch
United States Senator
1411 Falls Avenue E, Suite 2
Twin Falls, ID 83301

Dear Senator Risch:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter of January 30, 2012, and a subsequent email from Kari Emond of your staff, both of whichforwarded correspondence from your constituent, Robert Leyse. Mr. Leyse raises additional issues on matters addressed in earlier correspondence with you or directly with the NRC in the  past. Responses to Mr. Leyse’s latest inquiries are enclosed.

The NRC has a long history of, and commitment to, transparency, participation, and collaboration in our regulatory activities. As discussed with your staff, we would like to clarify and re-emphasize that your constituent and other members of the public have ample opportunity to make comments on public rulemakings and obtain technical information from the NRC’s Public Document Room. In the past, Mr. Leyse has raised issues of technical interest and issues regarding availability of information. As a result, a number of documents have been made available at his request. Mr. Leyse can fully participate in the NRC’s activities through direct contact with the agency, as he has in recent years. For example, in 2002, he submitted a Petition for Rulemaking to which the NRC responded. All of the questions he submitted in his most recent correspondence can be accommodated in the normal manner in which the NRC does business.
 
In addition to public participation in our regulatory processes, we welcome the opportunity to respond to public concerns regarding safety or security. If he has any such concerns, Mr. Leyse can raise them directly to the NRC by contacting any NRC employee or by calling the NRC’s toll-free Safety Hotline at 1-800-695-7403. Calls to this number are answered 24 hours a day.
 
We appreciate you sharing this information with Mr. Leyse and urging him to contact the NRC directly in the future should he have additional questions.
 
Sincerely,
 
/RA/
R. W. Borchardt
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
As stated 

Following is from my entry of September 18, 2013. 

Subject:	RE: Please assist (again)
Date:	10/1/2013 8:00:32 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time
From:	JLD_Public.Resource@nrc.gov
To: Bobleyse@aol.com

Thank you for contacting the NRC’s Japan Lessons-Learned Project Directorate. Your comments will be considered to the extent possible.

Japan Lessons Learned Project Directorate 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

So, I will have to again contact Senator Risch in order to get the data that I seek regarding hardened venting at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.