ML20042E102
| ML20042E102 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/17/1989 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Carr, Roberts, Rogers NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20042D143 | List: |
| References | |
| NACNSRRC, NUDOCS 9004200113 | |
| Download: ML20042E102 (4) | |
Text
T EMORA'NDUM.FOR: 1 Chairman Carr Commissioner Roberts:
i Comissioner Rogers -
l Commissioner Curtiss FROM:
James M.. Taylor Acting Executive Director
.i for Operations
SUBJECT:
NRC' RESPONSE TO THIRD REPORT OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY RESEARCH-REVIEW COMMITTEE (NSRRC)-
By memorandum dated August 28, 1989 you were provided a copy of the. third report of the' Nuclear Safety Research Review Comittee (August 11, 1989 letter-
-from: Prof. Neil E. Todreas, Chairman of the NSRRC to Mr. Eric S. Beckjord, DirectorofRES).-
Commissioner Rogers indicated in his September 26, 1989 letter to me his endorsement of the recommendations in the Third Report and urged staff to adopt them.
'I am nowl providing you.with a copy)of our response-(October 10, 1989 letter from Mr. Beckjord to Prof. Todreas..In particular, our response indicates.
l current activities underway to improve the nuclear safety research program, as well as specific areas which need shoring-up and those elements of the program severely affected by budgetary constraints. Mr. Beckjord has directed-his~
staff to take the appropr.iate follow-up actions to assure full implementation of the Todreas Comittee recomendations.
These actions are expected to be completed by the end of 1989.
l I will continue to keep th~e Comission abreast of the activities of-the NSRRC in its efforts to advise the Agency on its nuclear safety research program.
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James M. Taylor i
Acting Executive Director for Operations Attachments:
1.
10/10/89 Beckjord letter to Todreas, w/ attachments 2.
8/11/89 Todreas letter to Beckjord
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. j MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman Carr
- Comissioner Roberts'
. Comissioner Rogers l
Commissioner Curtiss s
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James M. Taylor u
. Acting Executive Director for. Operations-
SUBJECT:
NRC RESPONSE TO THIRD REPORT OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE (NSRRC)
- By memorandum dated August 28, 1989 you were provided a copy of theithird
= report of the Nuclear Safety Research Review Comittee (August 11,'1989 letter
-from Prof.3 Neil E. Todreas, Chairman of the NSRRC to Mr. Eric S. Beckjord,
- t Director of RES).
Comissioner. Rogers indicated in his September 26, 1989 letter to me his-endorsement of the recomendations in tie-Third Report and urged staff to adopt them.
- I am now providing-you with a copy)ofi our respo'nse (October 10, 1989 letter i
from Mr. Beckjord to Prof. Todreas.
In particular, our response indicates lt current activities underway to improve the nuclear safety research program, as
- well as specific areas which need shoring'up,andithose' elements-of~the
)rogram l
' severely affected by budgetary constraints. Mr. Beckjord has directed lis.
4 staff to take the appropriate follow-up actions'to assure full implementation, of the Todreas: Committee recomendations.. These actions are expected to ;be:
completed by the end of 1989.
I will continue to. keep the Comission abreast of the activities of the NSRRC-in its efforts to advise the. Agency on its nuclear safety-research program.
i James M. Taylor.
Acting Executive Director for Operations-Attachments:
1.
10/10/89 Beckjord letter to Todreas, w/ attachments
.2.
8/11/89 Todreas letter to Beckjord -
cc: SECY OGC
Contact:
R.-L. Shepard, RES
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October 3,
1989 RESEARCH ACTION ITEM 3: 01 - pm MAIL CONTROL FORM
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DECCRIPTION:
COMMENTS ON THIRD REPORT OF THE N U C L_ E A R t
SAFETY RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE-SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
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James M. Taylor Acting Executive ~ Director for Operations FROM Kenneth:.C. Rogers l
SUBJECT:
THIRD REPORT'OF THE NUCLEAR SAFETY RESEARCH REVIEW COMMITTEE-(NSRRC)
I strongly endorse-the recommendations in the Third Report of i
the. Nuclear: Safety Research Review Committee and urge ~ staff to adopt them.
I.believe'these recommendations provida some keys.-
to= assuring the long-term strength of'the NRC Research. Program.
1 In particular, I want to emphasize my support of the need to
-j enhance'the management capabilities of current RES-personnel,.
such as'by exposing managers or potential-managers to outside
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executive _ management programs:outside.-of the government-in order to expose them to different approaches and'new ideas.
,lp adpition to the use of details or exchanges, as proposed by the-NSRRC, appropriate opportunities zor enhancement of manacement l
opportunities -through support of emplovaes in outside pro-feasional activities.should be actively =~ght.
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l The Committee's comments on the peer review of-NRC research results reflect my own continued concern about the effective-j
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ness and consistency of our peer. review process.. I urge-1 further attention to this. area, as recommended by the NSRRC.
l' In particular, we must be-careful to distinguish between mere publication in the form of reports and true: pearl review. :While the former can expose NRC work to the scrutiny of the technical community after publication,.the~ process.is not as_ stringent or
-l assured as in the. case of publications'which base acceptance of 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 i
are many additional benefits'to the NRC:and-its programs that-can come about by enlarging the NRC's involvement with the-academic world.
I share with the Committee an interest in l
seeing a more aggressive approach to expanding.the research in this area, and will follow with interest the success.of your planned initiatives.
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2 I believe the Committee's concerns over the validity and use of
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research prioritization procedures'are well taken.
While I have observed no particular problems with the procedures used to date,cI-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
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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.
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The Committee's comments on the proposed continued level of activity in the thermal hydraulics area reflects-my own con-carns about how we come to closure on NRC research, and still maintain an ability to address problems that may develop at a later time.
This is an important question, and deserves consideration for both thermal hydraulics and for other re-i 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.
The Committee has done an excellent job to date-inl focussing on identifying " root causes" in our research, and on focussing on~
i 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-f i
tions.
I am pleased to see such cooperation, and-urge you to continue this interaction so as to achieve the maximum 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-Council.
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Kenneth C. Rogers Commissioner l
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Chairman Carr Commissioner Roberts Commissioner Curtiss 3
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