ostendorff. >> sir, thank you are your question.i think commissioner magwood and i were in tokyo junior 18 and that with her counterpart, the nrc's counterpart agency in japan for regulation of their nuclear industry. we have long discussions with the leadership about their plans to reform the regulatory structure. i think they are borrowing heavily from the united states model. i would also say that they are looking not enhancing independence to try and increase technical confidence in their leadership and the japanese to their own reports of the knowledge significant improvements they need to make. >> improvements based on some of the things we've done? >> and also an assessment of their system in some areas came up short. >> okay, okay. any of the rest of you want to comment as to the basic difference is they are facing over there. not you, mr. chairman. we are eager to do. the others in terms of what they might be getting from us? the point and try to make here is what happened over there and what happens here is two totally dif

commissioner ostendorff. >> thank you, mr. chairman. chairman copper anke carper, just over one year since the earthquakes in on a devastated japan and led to fukushima daiichi. last july the task force and the nic concluded the sequence of events in the united states is unlikely and the task force concluded there was no imminent risk in the operation of u.s. nuclear power plants and those conclusions are made day. and the actions plans even safer. the nrc has taken positive concrete steps to strengthen the regulatory framework in response to fukushima. i join my colleagues at this table commended among women at the nrc for their hard work and i've also appreciate a chance and colleagues to marry. since i last appear before the committee in december that a three letter submitted in the commission in february. as mentioned by others, the orders were issued this week. i think it is important for the committee to no polymath has slightly different variations on the bases for these orders that all five of us in the unanimous act approved al

commissioner ostendorff. >> that's a great question. i think all of us have had different interactions. you about i think we have heard nothing but gratitude and tremendous thanks offered to the united states government, to the military, to the n.r.c., to the department of energy, other cabinet agencies. i know that when commissioner magwood and i were in japan middle of january, we received a lot of thanks. i know that a number of us were at a japanese embassy event last week where we also received thanks along were other sectors of the government in this country. and the chairman led a commemoration ceremony this past -- three days ago at the n.r.c. where the japanese ambassador of the united states also passed on his signature thanks to our country. i think it's been very positive. >> commissioner magwood. >> i echo that. i also -- i have had lots -- a lot of conversation was people from japan and it bears a great deal of appreciation for the contributions of n.r.c. in particular. i think a lot of people recognize the expertise n.r.c

they have evolved, yes. >> commissioner ostendorff. >> thank you, senator. i agree with my colleagues. i also disagree with the u.c.s. report. i'd like to make two comments. i agree with the chairman and commissioner apostolakis' comments on the seismic piece. i think we are concerned with the overall time period to look at seismic hazards. and i think our staff requirement memorandum was issued a few days ago does request that our staff and industry look at ways that might be alternatives to speed up this process. i think we are all -- want to move forward as quickly as we can. that said, i think we are doing it very responsibly. the second piece i could comment very briefly, senator, is the chairman i agree his comments on the station blackout, i agree. one of the things to throw into the mix here is the fact that many of the nuclear power plants in this country licensees have already ordered additional portable diesel generators, point of order a quorum is not presentable battery charging equipment, and other steps that they are taking to enhance the deal

commissioner ostendorff. >> thank you, madam chairman. chairman carper, ranking member barrasso, members of the committee. just over one year since an earthquake and tsunami devastated japan, led to severe accidents at fukushima daiichi. last july the fukushima task force at the n.r.c. concluded that the sequence of events, the united states similar to that in japan is unlikely. the task force also concluded there is no imminent risk for continued operation of u.s. nuclear power plants. i believe those conclusions remain true today. no less i continue to support the n.r.c.'s actions to make our plants even safer. the n.r.c. has taken positive, concrete steps to strengthen the n.r.c.'s regulatory framework in response to fukushima. i join my colleagues here at this table and also commending the men and women of the n.r.c. for their hard work. i also appreciate the chance to engage with my four colleagues to the right. since i last appeared before this committee in december i voted to approve of three orders submitted to the commission in f

ostendorff. >> the fukushima task force concluded that the sequence of events in the united states similar to that in japan is unlikely. there is no imminent risk to continue operations of u.s. nuclear power plants. i continue to support the nrc's actions to make our nuclear power plants even safer. i join my colleagues at this table in commending the men and women of the nrc for their hard work. since i last appeared before this committee, i vote to approve the three orders submitted to the commission in february. orders were issued earlier this week. it is important for this committee to note that we have slightly different views, but we all approve all three orders. that is a significant statement. these orders represent sound policy decisions for nuclear safety. we saw in our visit to fukushima the importance of us taking strong actions as regulators. i am confident of the past -- the path the nrc is on today. i look forward to your questions. >> thank you very much. mr. magwood, he said nuclear power plants are safe. we need to be cautious. you need to say, we are doing everything in