ML20029E780
| ML20029E780 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/06/1994 |
| From: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Slezevicius A AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9405200106 | |
| Download: ML20029E780 (2) | |
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7 May 6, 1994 CHAIRMAN His Excellency Adolfas Slezevicius Prime Minister Vilnius Republic of Lithuania
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
During our visit to Vilnius last October, I and my colleagues from NRC had the pleasure of meeting with you and other Lithuanian officials. We had the opportunity to discuss nuclear energy sector issues, including nuclear safety, and share with you some thoughts on energy sector priorities for Lithuania.
These included the need to raise electricity charges to cover operating and other costs, the need for a strong and independent nuclear regulatory body reporting to the highest level of government, and the importance to Lithuania of joining the Vienna Convention and the joint Paris Protocol on third party liability.
We have since followed with great interest some of the positive steps We are also undertaken by your government in these and other important areas.
informed of the safety assessment of Ignalina mandated by the EBRD's multilateral Nuclear Safety Account as a condition for the release of NSA grant funds needed for Ignalina plant upgrades. We recognize that a large part of the assessment will be performed by groups of international Technical Support Organizations (TS0s) under the guidance of a panel of international experts. However, the final safety review and licensing decision remains the responsibility of Vatesi.
On the matter of NRC regulatory assistance to Vatesi, I am happy to report that my agency has recently signed an agreement with Vatesi that enables us to initiate selected assistance activities. Recently Dr. Vaishnis and I have had a chance to exchange further views regarding Vatesi's assistance needs. We both recognize that the upcoming safety assessment is a high priority task for Vatesi and will place many demands on its limited staff.
NRC is prepared to identify competent U.S. TS0s which could participate in this international effort.
However, to be of long term value, our regulatory assistance to Vatesi needs to extend beyond the mere participation by a U.S.
company in this one-time international exercise.
Our proposed assistance agreement offers an excellent opportunity from which to structure the transfer to Vatesi of relevant NRC licensing methodology.
Our efforts to formulate a meaningful bilateral assistance program have encountered two major stumbling blocks: (1) Vatesi's limited staff may be unable to handle the combined demands of substantive participation in the 1%CC3 O
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,i His Excellency Adolfas Slezevicius 2
international review while also trying to absorb large amounts of information delivered in an intensive bilateral training program, and (2) the low pay structure of the regulatory staff limits Vatesi's ability to retain trained competent personnel and attract new qualified personnel.
In addition, we believe that Vatesi's effectiveness would be enhanced significantly through early passage of a modern Atomic Energy Law providing Vatesi the authority to l
regulate effectively.
I would welcome your support for strengthening Vatesi's capability to perform its regulatory responsibilities.
I wish you well and look forward to meeting with you again next time I visit Lithuania.
Sincerely, Ivan Selin l
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