ML20057C445
| ML20057C445 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/21/1993 |
| From: | De Planque E NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9309280381 | |
| Download: ML20057C445 (4) | |
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RELEASED TO THE PDR l!
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N 0 T A T.I 0 N V 0-T E:; _8 E_ 81__ _ : i
_,;;,, o,,,, 2 ;.. :; i RESPONSE SHEET-T0:
SAMUEL J. CHILK, SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION FROM:
COMMISSIONER DE PLANQUE
SUBJECT:
SECY-93-252 - SUPPLEMENT TO THE REGION V REALIGNMENT STUDY ano srcy-93-171 - accion v nraticuntur stuor t
APPROVED X(w/ comments)
DISAPPROVED ABSTAIN P
NOT PARTICIPATING REQUEST DISCUSSION l
COMMENTS:
i See attached comments.
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i S h dr <?A-w SIGNATURE i
RELEASE VOTE
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September 21, 1993 DATE
. WITHHOLD VOTE
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ENTERED ON "AS" YES NO x
9309280381 930921 hh PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR v
a Commissioner de Planque's Comments on SECYs-93 171 and 252 T
The Region V Realignment Study group has done a commendable job in laying out for the Commission the pros and cons of different options for restructuring Region V (Options 1-4) or for maintaining the present structure but with alterations to increase efficiency of operations (Option 0).
All of the options promise to produce, in the long run, FTE and dollar savings.
It is important to note, however, that the operating premise for the staff studies was to identify prospective FTE savings.
Realignment of Region V is not necessary to enable the NRC to meet the President's February, 1993 request to reduce FTE by 4% by FY95.
Moreover, the Vice President's recent report of the National Performance Review (NPR) will likely lead the US Government in other directions to create a government that " works better and costs less."1 These new directions include, inter alia, i
focusing in the long run on cost savings,' not FTE savings, and adjusting the supervisor-staff ratio (" increase the average span of a manager's control").
While FTE and cost savings are inter-related, they represent two entirely different goals.
With respect to increasing the average span of a manager's control, this was not an objective of the original options developed by the staff.
The modified Option 0,8 in identifying ways to increase the efficiency of operating Region V, does address this issue while also yielding long-term savings in cost ($1.1 million annually) and in FTE (12.6).
Option 0 preserves for the Commission other options, such as later transitioning to any of the other options identified by the staff, or, to new options that may need to be considered in light of the NPR.
Of the options presently before the Commission, Option 0 carries the least adverse impact upon the continuity of NRC programs (e.g.,
providing services during the transition period) and upon Region V employees (e.g.,
relocation) who have loyally and ably served this 2Indeed, this is already the case as witnessed by the i
President's issuance of two Executive Orders and one Memorandum on September 11, 1993 to implement some of the recommendations of the NPR.
2.,But as we redesign the government for greater accountability, we need to use budgets, rather than FTE controls, to drive our downsizing.
The President should direct OMB and agency heads to stop setting FTE ceiling in fiscal year 1995.'"
Report by the National Performance Review, September 7, 1993, page 19.
'As presented in EDO's memorandum of September 17, 1993 to the i
Commission.
1
2 agency.*
The adverse impact of the other options upon continuity of services and upon affected employees and their families as well as on NRC emp2oyee morale will be considerable.
The advantages associated with personnel actions that would result in large scale relocations or severance from the NRC should be clear, large and compelling.
This is not the case now.
With respect to the other options, Option 3 appears to be the least objectionable but I see serious disadvantages.
Under that option, it is estimated
- that 68 of the 108 current employees in Region V would relocate and 17 would leave the agency leaving only 10 individuals in Walnut Creek.'
Option 3 will have a greater disruptive effect upon NRC's programs and exact a heavier human cost than Option O.
With Option 3 there will be effects upon the agency's ability to perform its regulatory responsibilities which are not insignificant.
Interactions with the 5 Agreement States will need to rely more on telephonic and written communication and less on face-to-face meetings - this at a time when members of Congress are urging the NRC to increase its oversight of the Agreement States.
The Region V materials program is significant -
there are 140 licenses in Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Trust territories and 139 licenses in the Agreement States issued to Federal entities or to other entities operating on land subject to exclusive Federal (and therefore NRC) jurisdiction.
The total of 279 licenses is comparable to a medium sized Agreement State program.
The Regional State Agreement Officer and the regional materials staff are, jointly, a technical and training resource for the Region's 5 large Agreement States who regulate 3,355 licenses or 22% of all Agreement State licenses.
Two of the Nation's commercial LLW sites are in Region 5 and are scheduled for eventual closure and decommissioning.
The Ward Valley LLW site in California continues to progress.
Close oversight by NRC of these States' LLW programs will be needed.
These considerations argue strongly for a continued presence in Region V for the Regional State Agreements and the regional materials programs.
Even the reactor program will face communication and coordination challenges under this option given that approximately half of the inspection resources needed to conduct the Region V program will reside in Region IV (see SECY-93-171 at 55-57) and Region V will no longer have full emergency response capabilities.
'This is not to say that the Commission, at some future date, would not find it necessary to take measures that will require personnel actions such as relocation.
Rather, I do not find the evidence compelling, at this time, to select an option that would require such action now.
SUsing figures provided in EDO's 9/17/93 memorandum to Comm. de Planque.
'The remaining 13 are resident inspectors in Region V.
3 In conclusion, I approve. Option 0 as modified in the EDO's memoraadum dated September 17, 1993 to the Commission with one exception.
I do not approve elimination of the Deputy Regional Administrator in Region V because of the value of this position as described in Dr. Murley's memorandum (Appendix 13 to SECY-93-252).
I favor a modified Optinn 0, because:
I 1.
It will eventually attain FTE (11.6) and dollar savings I
(approximately $1 million) for the NRC without obvious, serious downsides, t
2.
It has, of the options under consideration,.the minimum '
i adverse impact upon Region V employees, their families and employee morale, 3.
It has, of the options under consideration, the least disruptive effect upon NRC programs, 4.
It leaves open a broader range of future options that might be developed in response to the NPR, and i
5.
We will meet the present goal of reducing our FTE by 4% by FY95 without requiring use of any of the options.
b