So now we know that the agency in charge of inspecting coal mines had nice friendly relations with the mine owners, and so they didn’t work too hard to enforce safety violations. And then of course there’s the BP spill when the agency charged with oversight of the offshore rigs took the company’s word for it that everything was fine and besides, what could go wrong?

This week the Brattleboro Reformer reported the Nuclear Regulatory Commission released its report on the tritium leak at Vermont Yankee. This is the one where company officials first claimed they could not possibly be responsible. Then it took six weeks to find and stop the radioactive leak. Basically the parent company, Entergy drew up the document, claiming that they had investigated themselves thoroughly and surprise, surprise, found nothing wrong.

The NRC took the report, put their stamp on it, and declared it a job well done. I’m sure we all feel better now.