Since 1964, I have held increasingly responsible positions in the energy field in the private sector, serving 25 years with one major corporation. These positions have included assistant chief nuclear and environmental systems engineer; project engineer at a fossil fuel plant in New Zealand; project engineer on a nuclear power plant; chief plant design engineer; manager of corporate business development; and project manager of several nuclear projects. I was seconded to the Tennessee Valley Authority as Site Director for the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant. Upon returning to the private sector, I was named Vice President and General Manager of an international joint venture company providing maintenance, modification and inspection services to U.S. operating nuclear power plants. I also assisted executive management in structuring and implementing a corporate quality management initiative, and managed a regional office providing diversified engineering and construction services. Mr. Chairman, and Members of the Committee, let me conclude by saying that I regard public service as an honor and a privilege. The future of our country depends on how well we manage, conserve and develop energy resources and protect our environment. I feel extremely fortunate to have been nominated to this vitally important position. I pledge to you that upon confirmation, I will devote all of my abilities to protect the public trust, and faithfully execute the direction provided by the President, the Secretary of Energy, and the Congress. Thank you. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. Pomrehn. Mr. Easton, I think you will have no difficulty getting confirmed. I trust not. Your background is excellent. I think you will promise to do a fine job. Mr. Pomrehn, as we discussed the other day, I do not know of any position that is more important than yours. It is so important, first, because this is the fastest growing field in the Federal Government; that is, waste cleanup; particularly, nuclear waste cleanup. Secondly, because it is an area attenuated by enormous waste, tremendous waste, because it is growing so fast. We do not have the technical means of cleaning up some of this waste yet. We are still trying to get the techniques perfected. There are either no standards, or unrealistic standards, and some of them, misunderstood standards. Frequently, the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing because we have increased the size of this effort so quickly. That enormous waste that we have had, which I guess you have in most areas of government that grow this quickly, and particularly that is misunderstood as much as this, I think it is understandable, perhaps even excusable, that we have had this kind of waste, what I believe is waste. Maybe not everyone would agree with that. When we spent over $1 billion in the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste facility and do not have a shaft which has begun yet, I call that waste. We have got to get these programs under control. The job offers the greatest challenge of most any I know of in government. I look forward to working with you in getting these things done. The other day, you and I discussed a matter. I do not know whether you have had a chance or whether you are prepared to speak for the Department. I do not know whether you have had a chance to talk to the Department about this question of the Hanford and other sites, whether or not we want to delay those for a year? Are you prepared to speak to that yet, or would you rather have the Secretary or someone who is already sworn in speak to that? Mr. POMREHN. Mr. Chairman, I have begun to study some of these issues, but I think it is a little premature for me to put forth any policy or specific statements in that regard. The CHAIRMAN. That is fine. Mr. POMREHN. Some of the issues we talked about, and some of the concerns you have regarding program efficiencies, and the evolution of our technology to solve some of these problems are ongoing already. They now need to be evidenced in terms of real action and real performance. I am bound and determined to make that happen, including the Yucca Mountain issue, including some Hanford issues. All of the national labs are making great transitional moves right now. It is all a part of this challenge I mentioned in my statement that I am about to undertake. The CHAIRMAN. Senator Craig. Senator CRAIG. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Mr. Easton, it is a pleasure to have you back before the committee. I have no questions of you because nothing has changed. You have only improved, become more knowledgeable, and have served well, as many have already said this morning. Mr. EASTON. Thank you, Senator. Senator CRAIG. We are pleased to see that the Admiral recognizes that and moves along. We think that is important. Dr. Pomrehn, it is great to have you before the committee. I enjoyed our visit the other afternoon. I am also pleased by your resume of the quality of people that Secretary Watkins has continued to put around him as we work through these difficult issues. I think the chairman clearly spoke to it. It is interesting that we are all focusing on largely the same issue. I think what you and he discussed in your conversations in his office were somewhat similar to some of the things we discussed. I think most of us on this committee are very disturbed that a course of action that we decided to take, as it related to high-level waste, appears to be one that is becoming very, very difficult, if not impossible, because of costs and because of unrealistic requirements that we have placed on ourselves or have caused to have placed on ourselves. It may not be really worthy of what we are attempting to accomplish. I think that the committee is probably going to have to totally re-look, as the Department should, when we get reports that this thing is going to be so costly just to get on paper before we get any concrete in the ground. I think it wise for all to re-look, but it does not cause us or allow us, more importantly, to walk away from the issue at hand; that is, the handling of waste, and what I believe in some instances, as it relates to high-level waste as future energy opportunity. Maybe we ought to try to be a little stronger in our effort to deal with the detractors in a way that allows the reality of this issue to come forward. That is, the proper handling and processing of these kinds of materials for future use. I do believe we are going to have a nuclear future and must have. You have got a challenge ahead of you. It just so happens we have a facility in Idaho that is probably going to have to be, by nature of its talents and its past record, on the cutting edge of the waste issue and the handling of this waste. I am talking about our national laboratory in Idaho. With the redefining and realignments that are going on in our national laboratories, as it relates to waste, I look forward to working very closely with you and welcome you aboard. Mr. POMREHN. I am looking forward to the chance. Thank you. Senator CRAIG. Thank you both. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Craig. Gentlemen, thank you very much. I hope this did not hurt too much. We will keep the record open for questions from other members. Thank you. [Whereupon, at 10:10 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.] Employment record: List below all positions held since college, including the title and description of job, name of employer, location, and dates. SEE ATTACHMENT A 1 Employment record-Continued Military service: Honors and awards: Memberships: Describe any military service not listed above, including dates, rank, and type of discharge. List below all scholarships, fellowships, honorary degrees, military medals, honorary PI TAU SIGMA (National Honorary Mechanical Engineering Society) Member of the Board of Directors of USC Dean's Circle and Engineering List below all memberships and offices held in professional, fraternal, business, scholarly, civic, charitable and other organizations. |