ML20003E981
| ML20003E981 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/27/1981 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Brooks J HOUSE OF REP., GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003E982 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8104170632 | |
| Download: ML20003E981 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES
- [,j l ',. ;.n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 s
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March 27, 1981 CHAIRMAN COWIssIog The Honorable Jack Brooks, Chairman CORREsp0ND UCE Committee on Government Operations United Rates House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
~
At your request, we have reviewed H.R. 2, Sunset Act of 1981. The fiRC te-iterates its strong support for the objectives of this and prior sunset proposals; that is, to promote governmental efficiency through periodic in-depth analyses of selected programs and reviews of existing budget authority.
As set forth in our prior comments on H.R. 2 as introduced in the House on 3
January 15, 1979, the NRC's budget authority is ordinarily granted on an i
annual basis (although there is an effort towards adoption of a two-year authorized cycle). As a result, the Commission's programs have been subject to an even more frequent review schedule than is contemplated under the present sunset proposal. Assuming that the reauthorization process contem-plated by H.R. 2 is substantially similar to that currently employed by Con-gress with respect to the NRC's programs, our agency may not be greatly af-i fected by this bill in terms of budgetary procedures used or paperwork re-quired.
4 However, H.R. 2 does not provide clear guidance on what constitutes a " pro-gram" for the purposes of a reauthorization review or a reexamination report under titles I or III respectively. While section 201 of the proposal man-dates the preparation of a program inventory to assist Congress in implemen-ting titles I and III, it does not indicate whether the identified program is to be, in the case of the flRC, the Commission's general regulatory prograns under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, each of the seven offices of the Commission, or each specific activity conducted by each office. Absent such guidance, it is difficult to accurately assess the impact H.R. 2 may have on the current budgetary and paperwork procedures of the Commission or its ability to satisfy its regulatory responsibilities under the Atomic Energy Act should the reauthorization process not be completed in a timely manner.
Additionally, the present bill, like prior sunset bills, continues to raise a number of concerns on the part of the Commission.
It is not clear from our reading of the language of H.R. 2 whether or how new single year programs, initiated between review cycles, will be examined.
fleither is it clear what effect the legislation would have on the scope or the incidence of reviews now conducted annually by the NRC's three congressional oversight committees. We continue to believe that the reauthorization review under the bill could take the place of the annual authorization process when the Comission's programs are being reviewed, thereby avoiding duplication of 810.4170 h
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The Honorable Jack Brooks 2
oversight functions.
'!e also recommend that section 205(b) of the bill be modified to provide for consultation between the Congressional Budget Office and the Office'of 'anagement and Budget in developing projections of amounts of increased budget authority needed to caintain a particular level of author-ized services.
Sucn coordination is currently authorized under section 203 with respect to compilation of the program inventory.
Such consultation would ensure that both the Executive Branch and the Congress developed similar bud-getary projections based on identical information.
Finally, we note that H.R. 2 includes Title IV (formerly Title VII of H.R. 2 as introduced January 15,1979), which requires detailed review before tax expenditure provisions are reauthorized. We reiterate our belief that this provision is consistent with the intent of the sunset legislation as it includes a significant portion of public expenditures.
We appreciate this opportunity to comment on the proposed legislation and would be happy to provide you with any further information.
Sincerely, t
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IJgshphM.Hendrie t
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