WASHINGTON, DC– Last week, during the 107^th session of the Steering Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) in Paris, France, William D. Magwood, IV, head of the Department’s nuclear program, was elected Chairman of the Steering Committee, the governing body of the Agency.   The elevation of the U.S. to the top position at the NEA represents only the second time in the 47-year history of the agency that a U.S. official has held the top position.  In the mid-1980's, Ambassador Richard Kennedy, who served as Ambassador at Large during the Reagan and Bush Administrations, was elected to the helm of the NEA.

“Last week’s election at the NEA to install a U.S. head, signals the revival of U.S. leadership in worldwide nuclear energy policy,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said.   “We are obviously very pleased with this appointment and we look forward to working even more closely with the international community on the nexus between sustainable development and efforts to develop Generation IV nuclear technology.”

As Chairman, Mr. Magwood will work to strengthen the Agency’s work program and align its activities more closely with priority work being pursued by organizations, such as the Generation IV International Forum.  The GIF is an international organization of 11 governmental members dedicated to cooperative research and development of next generation nuclear energy technologies that are proliferation- resistant, economic, safe, and less waste intensive.  Mr. Magwood was elected Chair of that group in September of this year.

The NEA was established in 1956, as a sub-organization of the OECD, for the purpose of assisting the member countries in maintaining and further developing, through international cooperation, the scientific, technological and legal basis required for a safe, environmentally friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.   It is comprised of 28 member countries and the European Commission.

The NEA provides a forum for in-depth exchanges of technical and programmatic information, promotes development by initiating and carrying out research on key problems, forges common positions on technical and policy issues, and organizes joint projects to enable interested countries to carry out joint international research.

Mr. Magwood replaces retiring Steering Committee Chairman Lars Hogberg, former Director General of Sweden’s Nuclear Power Inspectorate.   Mr. Hogberg has served as Chairman since April 1999. 

Additional information on the Department of Energy’s nuclear energy programs may be found on the nuclear energy web site, www.nuclear.gov.

Media Contact(s):
Hope Williams, 202/586-5806

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