What role does the NRC play in protecting nuclear whistleblowers from retaliation?
The NRC investigates all retaliation claims and typically also the underlying safety or regulatory compliance issue about which the employee blew the whistle. If the NRC finds that a licensee has violated any of the provisions of the ERA, then the NRC may impose civil penalties. What can a prevailing plaintiff recover? Under the ERA, a prevailing employee will be made whole, i.e., will be returned to the same position he or she would have been absent the retaliation. In particular, the ERA authorizes reinstatement, back pay for lost wages, compensatory damages, and litigation costs, including attorney fees.
