ML20042E100
| ML20042E100 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/26/1989 |
| From: | Rogers K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20042D143 | List: |
| References | |
| NACNSRRC, NUDOCS 9004200108 | |
| Download: ML20042E100 (2) | |
Text
,
i ',
c i D"
f[ f
'cys:.'Speis-S fchcae >
('
il b*o UNITED $TATES.
.y
?,
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION rris
- s i1-WASHINGTON. D.C. 20555 '
Shao N, v L *o Houston Sheron
% ;,, J
september 26,1989, sf 9/28.
OFFICE oF THE l,
COMMi&SIONER t
MEMORANDUM FOR:
James M.' Taylor a
Acting Executive Director for Operations
.[
FROM:
'Kenneth C. Rogers'
SUBJECT:
THIRD REPORT OF-THE NUCLEAR SAFETY RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE ' (NSRRC).
r I strongly endorse the recommendations in:the Third Report of the Nuclear Safety Research Review: Committee-and urge staff to adopt them.
I believe these recommendations 1 provide some keys to, assuring the 3 cng-term strength of ' the - NRC t Research Program.
7 In particular, I want:to emphasize my supportJof the need to-enhance the management capabilities of1 current RFS. personnel, such as by exposing. managers or potential managert6to;outside.
~
executive management programs outside of the; government in-order to expose;them to different approaches and'new ideas'.- -In addition.to the use of-details or, exchange 6, as proposed-by the NSRRC, appropriate' opportunities 1for-enhancement of. management opportunities through support.of employees in-outside pro-fessional activities should be actively ~ sought.
The Committee's comments on the peer: review-of NRC;research results; reflect.my own continued concern.about the effective-ness and consistency of our. peer. review; process. ;I urge-further attention.to this area, as recommended;by the-NSRRC.-
L In part'icular,'we.must'be careful to distinguish.betweenl mere-l, publication in the form of reports and;true; peer 1 review.
While the former can expose NRC. work to'the-scrutiny of the technical community.after publication, the process'isinot'as. stringent or assured as inLthe. case of1publi'ations which base acceptance ofJ c
articles on an organized peer review process.
The Committee also commented on the participation of the:
university community.and others-in our research' program.
There-l
.are,many additional benefits to the NRC and'its programs thatt L
can come about by' enlarging the'NRC's involvement'with the academic world.
I, share with'the' Committee an interest in
'seeing a more aggressive approach to expanding the research in
.this' area, and will follow'with interest the success of your planned initiatives.
9004200108 891010 PDR OPG NREA p
l c
1 3
t 2
I believe the Committee's concerns over the validity and use of-research'prioritization procedures are well taken.
While I
'have observed no particular problems with the procedures used to date, I agree with the'need for continued oversight of this activity.
Further, the' Committee's concerns about the credibility of research results merit further investigation.
Given the Committee's interest in. hearing from user offices on a
-continuing basis about their needs, I believe the topic of the credibility'and utility of research'results would be appro-priate for discussion between the Committee and the user-offices at some future meeting.
The Committee's comments on the proposed continued level of L
activity in.the thermal hydraulics area reflects my own con-L cerns about how we come to closure on NRC research, and still l
maintain an' ability to addresssproblems that may develop at a l
later time. -This is an important question, and. deserves consideration for both thermal hydraulics and for'other re-search areas.
In addition, I believe the NSRRC's proposed emphasis in individual research areas is fully appropriate.
I particularly support their concerns about Instrumentation and control and I.
urge staff to identify appropriate needs for NRC'research in l
this area.
L The Committee has done an excellent job to datecin' focussing on identifying " root causes" in our research, and on focussing-on broad, underlying issues.
I believe their success is due in no small part to the cooperation they' appear to'have received from RES in terms of supplying information and responding-to sugges-l tions.
I am pleased to-see such cooperation ~, and: urge-you to continue this interaction so as to achieve theLmaximum value from the expertise and experience of this Committee.
I must also congratulate you on the success the NSRRC. reports in RES's implementation ~of the' suggestions of the National Research-i Council.
l I
%A, Kenneth.C. Rogerr Commissioner
~
cc:
Chairman Carr Conmissioner Roberts Commissioner Curtiss SECY E.
Beckjord, RES '
4
-..