Sen. Bernie Sanders recently sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman in which he criticized the announcement of a joint nuclear workshop to be organized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Department of Energy. The purpose of the workshop to deal with "technical issues and research topics for potential extended operation of the nation's nuclear power plants beyond 60 years." The Sanders letter said that the effort failed to consider recent assessments that indicate there are re-licensing problems within the nuclear energy industry. The letter added that extending licenses beyond 60 years is irresponsible considering the safety risks that already exists in many of the aging nuclear power plants.