ML100250573

E-mail to Mary Lampert from Maria Schwartz Safety Culture Workshop

ML100250573
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim, Seabrook, Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	01/22/2010
From:	Schwartz M NRC/OE
To:	Lampert M Pilgrim Watch, Town of Duxbury, MA, Nuclear Advisory Committee
Schwartz M
References
Download: ML100250573 (2)

Text

From: Schwartz, Maria Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 8:32 AM To: 'mary.lampert@comcast.net' Cc: Solorio, Dave; Zimmerman, Roy

Subject:

Location of February Safety Culture Workshop Ms. Mary Lampert Pilgrim Watch Town of Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee

Dear Ms. Lampert:

Thank you for your email responding to the December 15, 2009, Federal Register notice (FRN)

(74 FR 66387) (attached) announcing the public workshops the NRC will be conducting to solicit input relating to the development of its safety culture policy statement. I hope to clarify why the NRC chose to hold the first of possibly three workshops, in the Rockville, Md. area.

During discussions with external stakeholders about the February 2-4 workshop, questions were raised about the need for additional workshops. The staff plans to concentrate on holding a successful workshop in February and, with stakeholder feedback, determine whether additional workshops are beneficial, and if so, where they should be held.

The overarching goal of the February workshop is to forge a consensus around the objectives, strategies, activities and measures that enhance safety culture for NRC-regulated activities.

Specifics include the development of the safety culture common terminology effort that comprises: (1) development of a common safety culture definition; and (2) development of high-level description/traits of areas important to safety culture. We welcome your comments on the draft safety culture policy statement (74 FR 77525; November 6, 2009) (attached). The 90-day comment period has been extended from February 4, 2010 to March 1, 2010. Additionally, if you are interested in participating in the workshop, please refer to the information provided on the NRCs Public Meeting Schedule webpage at http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm.

The high-level descriptions/traits of areas important to safety culture addressing, e.g.,

communications, training, and leadership, will be incorporated into the agencys final policy statement and will be considered when revising our oversight programs for NRC-regulated nuclear activities. Implementation of this initiative may have an impact on all NRC-regulated activities including the operation of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station located in Plymouth, Massachusetts; Seabrook Station, located in Seabrook, New Hampshire; and Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, located in Vernon, Vermont. However, the immediate goal of the February workshop does not encompass implementation, and therefore, will not address specific issues, e.g., license renewal. The final policy statement will also be applicable to NRC materials licensees and certificate holders. For these reasons, we believe that holding the February workshop in or near agency headquarters in Rockville, Md., will provide an appropriate venue that makes this workshop accessible to the various organizations and individuals that will attend. As noted above, the workshop will also be made available to those who cannot physically attend via teleconferencing and/or videoconferencing through a website connection.

Information about the NRC's efforts in the area of safety culture can be found at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/safety-culture.html.

I hope this explanation adequately addresses your concern. I would be pleased to discuss any concerns with you at your convenience. I can be reached at 301-415-1888, or you can reach my Branch Chief, Dave Solorio, at 301-415-0149.

Sincerely, Maria E. Schwartz Concerns Resolution Branch Office of Enforcement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (301) 415-1888 E-mail Properties Mail Envelope Properties (70E4AAC55311054EA919EE77C68EEE980446B2FADE)

Subject:

Location of February Safety Culture Workshop Sent Date: 01/22/2010 10:29:12 AM Received Date: 01/22/2010 10:29:12 AM From: Schwartz, Maria Created By: Maria.Schwartz@nrc.gov Recipients:

Lucia.Lopez@nrc.gov (Lopez, Lucia)

Tracking Status: None Post Office:

HQCLSTR02.nrc.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 133318 01/22/2010 Draft Safety Culture Policy Statement_ML0932404080.pdf 63705 Nomination FRN_74 FR 66387.pdf 48066 Options Expiration Date:

Priority: olImportanceNormal ReplyRequested: False Return Notification: False Sensitivity: olNormal Recipients received: