ML19323C178
| ML19323C178 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/15/1980 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Mcintyre J OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT & BUDGET |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8005150105 | |
| Download: ML19323C178 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES 8
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April 15,1980 CHAIRMAN The Honorable James T. McIntyre Director Office of Management and Budget Washington, D. C.
20503
Dear Mr. McIntyre:
You have included the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the limitation on the hiring of Federal civilian personnel directed by the presidert on March 14, 1980.
This limitation occurred during a period of accelerated recruitment by NRC to implement the recommendations of the various Three Mile Island (TMI) investigations. As indicated in the enclosed table, the retro-active nature of the hiring freeze will prohibit this Agency from making another job offer until we are abuut 200 positions below the manpower level needed to meet NRC requirements. At our current loss rate, this means another hiring commitment could not be made until after the end of FY 1980.
This inability to hire while we operate substantially below our required manpower level will adversely affect the NRC's ability to pursue a number of programs which are critical to public health and safety.
Important areas affected include:
implementation of recommendations resulting from the TMI-2 investigations for improving the safety of operating reactors; the nuclear power reactor resident inspector program; the national waste management program established in the President's policy statement of March 6,1980; and licensing of plants now in the final stages of construction.
We will not be able to solve personnel shortages by making internal personnel adjustments.
The critical skills required to protect the public health and safety are not sufficiently ava.ilable within the agency and can only be acquired and maintained by hiring from outside.
It is our belief that this situation will adversely affect public health and safety at currently operating plants and delay the national nuclear waste management program.
I urgently request that the Nuclear' Regulatory Commission be permitted to hire to the Congressionally approved ceiling of 3,034 (to be increased to 3,094 if the supplemental now before the Congress passes).
I believe this is necessary to meet our requirements to protect the public safety and is exactly what is covered by Exemption 4.6 of OMB Bulletin Number 80--7, dated March 1980--i.e., the NRC staff is essential for maintaining operations that directly protect human safety.
Since ely.
Lohn F. Ahearne
Enclosure:
As stated
fiRC PROJECTED STAFFING DATA FREEZE
. ON BOARD OFFERS ACCEPTED OFFERS OUT TOTAL COMMITMENTS CEILIf1G( }
As of 2/29/80 2800 198 81 2979 2979 As of 3/14/80 2000 121 173 3094 2974 As of 4/11/80 2818 138 126 3083 2956 ProjectM(I) 6/30/80 2965(2) 0 0
2965 2927 Projected (I) 9/30/80 2894 0
0 2894 2892 Projected (I) 2825 34 0
2859 2859 12/31/80 s,
NOTES:
'(1) Agency attrition. rate is approximately.85%/mo.
I2) figure assumes that all who have or will have acepted already issued offdrs will have entered on duty by 6/30/80.
(3) Freeze ceiling is reduced by one for every two vacancies that occur after 2/29/80. The approximately 125 offers issued between 2/29/80.
and 3/14/80 (less declinations) must be offset by vacancies at a rate of two to one.
occurring after 2/29/80.'before any new commitments may be made.
Authorized Ceiling: w/ supplemental 3094 w/o supplemental 3034 e
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