ML19323A285

Provides Subcommittee on Environ,Energy, & Natural Resources W/ Rept to Congress on Resident Inspector Program, in Response to Committee on Interstate & Foreign Commerce Request Accompanying NRC Authorization Bill for FY79

ML19323A285
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/25/1980
From:	Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Moffett J HOUSE OF REP., GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
Shared Package
ML19323A239	List: ML19323A238 ML19323A248 ML19323A258 ML19323A268 ML19323A276 ML19323A280 ML19323A285 ML19323A288
References
NUDOCS 8004180193
Download: ML19323A285 (2)

Text

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March 25, 1980 OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Toby Moffett, Chairman Subcommittee on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Government Operations United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

In the report accompanying the NRC Authorization Bill for FY 1979, the House Comnittee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce requested that NRC submit in January,1980, an evaluation of the progress and problems associated with the Resident Inspector Program.

We have made this evaluation and the report of the results is enclosed.

However, our evaluation is limited oy the' amount of experience we have had with the resident inspection progri.m.

In summary we now have 53 reactor sites at which resident inspectors have been located, 13 at construction sites and 40 at operating sites (including sites where a reactor is being prepared for initial startup).

We have two resident inspectors at fuel facilities.

By the end of 1980 we expect to station resident inspectors at all operating reactor sites, 20 reactor construction sites, and two fuel facilities, for a total of 83 sites.

In the Resident Inspector Program we have encountered some difficulties.

The pool of experienced reactor inspectors in regional offices has been reduced.

Also, there is a higher than desirable ratio of inspectors to supervisors since we have limited the number of new supervisory positions in order to put most of the experienced inspectors out on the sites.

However, these difficul-ties should be resolved as the newly recruited inspectors become trained and attain some experience with the Program.

Relocation of inspectors from the regional offices to reactor sites has l

created some severe personal financial problems associated with sale and purchase of homes.

These have arisen because of delays in the sale of homes, higher interest rates on new homes, and the fact that a substantial portion of reimbursed costs are subject to the federal income tax.

The prospect of experiencing similar difficulties after a three year tour at the site only exacerbates the situation.

NRC is determining what can be done to alleviate the financial problems associated with frequent relocations.

The solution to some of these problems may require legislation.

In its FY 1979 report, the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce expressed concern about the possible loss of objectivity which resident inspectors might experience and the possibility that individual resident l

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r inspectors might not possess the breadth of technical knowledge required to properly oversee all aspects of the construction and operation of nuclear.

power plants. We share these concerns.

In the enclosed report we have described our efforts to deal with each of the Committee's concerns.

Si cerely, j

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i John F. Ahearne i

Chairman cc:

Representative Paul McCloskey i

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