ML19257A961
| ML19257A961 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/27/1979 |
| From: | Ryan R NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP) |
| To: | Thompson G WASHINGTON, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001100269 | |
| Download: ML19257A961 (3) | |
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[TC E UD Ref: SA/JOL Gerald J. Thomp' son, Secretary Department of Social and Health Services Olympia, Washington 98504
Dear Mr. Thompson:
This is to confirm the discussion Mr. Lubenau held with Mr. Thomas, Dr. Beare and Messrs. Reed, Strong and Will following our review and evaluation of the Washington radiation control program. The review covered the principal administrative and technical aspects of the program.
This included an examination of the program's funding and personnel resources; licensing, inspection and enforcement activities; field cvaluation of a State inspector; emergency response capabilities for agreement materials; and the status of the State's radiation control regulations.
As a result of our review of the State's program and the routine exchange of
.information between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Washington, the staff believes that the Washington program for regulation of agreement material is adequate to protect the public health and safety and is compatible with the Commission's program.
We believe the State has continued to progress in strengthening the program.
Further improvements are needed, however, and I would like to describe them.
I.
Personnel The professional staffing level has markedly improved. Nonetheless, current plans to further augment the staff must be completed if a quality regulatory program is to be maintained and respond to increasing responsibilities especially in the licensing and inspection of the low-level waste burial site and uranium mills. We recommend the register of vacant positions be opened for sufficiently long periods of time to permit advertising the vacancies in professional journals and newsletters.
This will enable you to draw upon a larger pool of qualified personnel who may be interested in employment in the Washington radiation control program.
We were pleased to find the State has taken advantage of short term training opportunities, including NRC sponsored courses.
Considerable training effort will continue to be needed as new staff is added.
Training for existing staff should not be overiooked: Short courses and workshops should be attended to assure the staff maintains an appropriate level of technical competence as technology and regulatory requirements 1724 345 8 001100 E.6
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Gerald J. Thompson change. NRC will continue to pay per diem and travel costs incurred by qualified persons attending NRC courses.
We had previously commented that revisions to the staff reclassification system may be merited to provide greater promotional opportunities within the system. Some minor reclassifications did take place, but opportunities for promotion are still limited.
We are concerned that if promotional opportunities are not available, the State will not be able to retain a trained, quality staff.
II. Administration We support the efforts currently underway to provide automated data processing and retrieval services for the radiation control program.
III. Licensing The University of Washington license expired over 2-1/2 years ago and is continuing under timely renewal provisions. The license was issued in 1972.
Current license requirements for broad academic licenses are considerably different and more stringent than those in 1972. The State should avoid continuing expired licenses under timely renewal for extended periods of time and should take steps to either complete license renewal action or institute alternative action. We will be pleased to assist the State in evaluating the University's renewal application.
IV. Compliance Since the last review meeting, the number of overdue inspections in the States Priority Category I has increased from 9 to 21.
Although the majority of these would not be overdue under NRC inspection criteria, we believe the State should adhere to its inspection priority system and eliminate the overdue inspections for Priority I licensees, the most potentially hazardous group.
Enclosed for your information is a copy of a letter to Mr. Will with connents regarding the technical aspects of the program. We found the documentation practices for the inspection programs to be excellent. Our discussions with the staff indicate the regular, internal audit program inaugurated by Washington has been beneficial.
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<a Gerald J. Thompson I appreciate the coartesy and cooperation extended to Mr. Lubenau.
I would appreciate receiving your comments on our reconnendations and learning of any actions you plan to take.
Sincerely, Robert G. Ryan, Diredtor Office of State Programs
Enclosure:
As stated cc:
G. Thomas J. Beare, M.0.
S. Reed T. Strong R. Will NRC Public Document Room State Public Document Room w/ encl.
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