ML20039F039
| ML20039F039 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/10/1981 |
| From: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Bush G W SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20039F031 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8201110752 | |
| Download: ML20039F039 (3) | |
Text
- p =cg'k UNITED STATES -
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION c.
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{g yI CASMNGTON, D. C. 205S5 "W4l
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December 10, 1981 CHAIRMAN The Honorable George H. W. Bush President of the Senate Washington, D.C.
20510
Dear Mr. President:
As Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Connission, I am writing to ask your. support for legislation to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954,.as amended, to help alleviate some of the most significant financial hardships associated with relocating the Comission's resident inspectors to individual nuclear facility sites. A draft bill is in-enclosure 1; an analysis of the proposed language is in enclosure 2; enclosure 3 contains a breakdown of the projected costs of the proposal.
T~ e resident inspector program was developed to meet the n
well-established need for a greater NRC presence at major licensed facilities, primarily nuclear power plants.
The resident inspector provides a continuing Codnission presence on-site. These inspectors are well-versed in their site's characteristics, nuclear technology, and the licensee's procedures and personnel. They monitor day-to-day activities and licensee performance, and are responsible for following up on NRC bulletins, circulars, and information notices relating to that site.
Resident inspectors also help assure that the licensee meets commitments in response to NRC enforcement actions. They are.available to respond quickly to events which could affect the public health and safety, both on-site and in the local area, providing a reliable and knowledgeable contact regarding activities occurring at the facility. With the assistance of Region-based inspectors, they perform a scheduled program of inspection into all aspects of plant construction, testing, and operation that may have a significant bearing on assuring the public health and safety.
In order to ensure the impartiality of the resident inspectors, the Comissior, permits an inspector to be assigned to one particular site for only three to five years.
After this term expires, the inspector must relocate.
Further, there~ are several restrictions placed on the personal lives of the resident inspector and the inspector's family which NRC requires to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of 8201110752 811210 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
2 interest between these key regulatory officials and personnel of the regulated industry.
During the development of the NRC resident inspector program, and in response to frequent expressions of congressional concern, great emphasis was placed on developing mechanisms for preventing inspectors from identifying too closely with the companies they were overseeing. These restrictive devices include limiting the employment opportunities of family members by prohibiting them from working for.the licensee or licensee contractor (frequently the principal employer in the small communities near most plants).
Also, other kinds of day-to-day contacts between the inspector and his family and employees of the licensee or licensee contractor and their families are restricted.
For example, the inspector is prohibited from carpooling with licensee or contractor employees or using licensee-subsidized transportation (e.o.., vanpools).
As a result of these requirements, as well as of NRC's difficulty in competing kith private industry to provide salary incentives and other benefits, NRC anticipates severe difficulty in recruiting and retaining the highly trained and competent individuals needed to make the reside ~nt inspector program effective.
The problem is expected to become particularly pressing as the agency commences large-scale rotation of resident inspectors. One major source of concern is the financial cost involved in relocating, especially in light of very tight housing and financial markets. While some of these costs are reimbursable under current government statutes and regulations, a significant share must still be borne by the relocating inspector.
A second problem area involves the costs of commuting between the resident inspector's residence and the nuclear reactor site.
The resident inspector's commuting costs present a unique problem relativa to those of other federal employees because of several factors: (1) the remoteness of many nuclear sites; (2) the frequent unavailability of public transportation; and (3) the restrictions placed on the inspector, which prohibit carpooling with licensee employees or using licensee-subsized transportation.
It is to these two areas of concern -- relocation costs and comuting costs -- that the proposed legislation is directed. This proposal would l
amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to authorize the Commission to: (1) reimburse resident inspectors for points, owner's title insurance, and bridge loan expenses incurred in relocating between two NRC positions; (2) contract with a relocation service to assist resident-inspectors in relocating between duty stations; and (3) provide resident inspectors with government cars to use for commuting purposes.
The Comission believes these measures would alleviate to a significant degree the problems of recruiting and retaining qualified resident inspectors.
We have consulted with OMB about this proposed legislation.
Unfortunately, OMB has decided for budgetary reasons that it will not i
support at this time any legislation liberalizing relocation benefits for any federal employees.
Because of our concern about the severe financial hardships borne by resident inspectors and the consequent e
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3 negative impact on'the resident inspector program, we-feel compelled to
- continue to pursue this much needed remedial legislation. We ' urge early.
and' favorable consideration of this proposed legislation by the Congress.
Sincerely, I
ij Nunzio Pa adino
Enclosures:
1.
Draft Bill 2.
Analysis 3.
Breakdown of Costs e
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