ML20112B514

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission Fact Sheet

ML20112B514
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/30/1996
From:	NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA)
To:
References
NUREG-BR-0099, NUREG-BR-0099-R07, NUREG-BR-99, NUREG-BR-99-R7, NUDOCS 9605220364
Download: ML20112B514 (4)

Text

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Office of Public Affairs j

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington. DC 20555 0001 Tel. (301) 415-8200 l

Fax (301)415-2234 Internet: OPA @ NRC. GOV Regional Public Affairs Offices Region 1 475 Allendale Road g

King of Prussia, PA 194061415 (610)337 5330 g

Region ll 101 Marietta Street Suite 2900 Atlanta, GA 30323-0199 I

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(817) 860-8128 Walnut Creek Field Office 1450 Maria Lane Walnut Creek, CA 94596-5368 (510)975-0346 l

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NRCMission-Tofcotect ThreeBasicFunctions

- fublic Health and Safety Performed tgAgency 8

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates the The NRC has about 3000 employees and a budget of civihan uses of nuclear matenals in the United States less than $500 milhon to carry out the three basic to protect the pubhc health and safety. the environment functions listed below. In addition. the NRC m respnn-and the comn9n defense and secunty. This mission is ssble for kcensing the export and import of nuclear accomphshed through: hcensing of nuclear facikhes facikhes, equipment and materials and the possession, use and disposal of nuclear materials; the development and implementation of Licensing-The agency reviews and essues hcenses requirements governing licensed activitics; and inspec-for the construction and operation of nuc; ear power tion and enforcement activities to assure compliance plants and other nuclear facilities and it hcenses the wth these requirements.

possession and use of nuclear materials for medical, industrial, educational, research and other purposes The NRC was created as an independent agency by Regulatory authority for nuclear materials licensing has the Energy Reorganization Act, signed into law been transferred to 29 states under the NRC's Agree-October 11,1974, which abolished the Atomic Energy ment States Program.

Commission. The NRC, which took over the regulatory functions of the AEC, formally came into being on inspection and Enforcement-The NRC conducts January 19,1975. The Energy Research and various kinds of inspections and investigations de-Development Administration, also created by the Energy signed to assure that licensed activities are conducted Reorganization Act, took over the other functior,s of the in corapliance with the agency's regulations and other AEC and is now part of the Department of Energy.

requirements, and enforces compliance as necessary.

When he signed the legislation, President Geranc' S -d Regulatory Research and Standards Development-said, in part: "The highly technical nature of our nuf ir facilities and the special potential hazards which are The NRC is mandated by law to conduct an extensive involved in the use of nuclear fuels fully Warrant the confirmatory research program in the areas of safety, e

cr:ation of an independent and technically competent safeguards and environmental assessment. In addition, regulatory agency to assure adequate protection of the agency establishes regulations, standard s and public health and safety. NRC will be guidelines goveming the various licensri us of nuclear facihties and materials, responsible for the licensing and regulation of the nuclear industry under the provisions of the Atomic En:rgy Act. This means that NRC will be fully empow-The Commission has headquorters offices in Rockville, ered to see to it that reactors using nuclear materials Ntaryland. Its four regional offices are located in King of will be properly and safely designed, constructed and Prussia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Lisle, Ilknois; operated to guarantee against hazards to the public and Arlington, Texas; with a field office in Walnut Creek, California.

from leakage or accident. NRC will also exercise strengthened authority to assure that the public is fully sal 3 guarded from hazards arising from the storage, Under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the V,4 is also required to regulate two gaseous diffusion uranium handling and transportation of nuclear materials bein9 used in power reactors, hospitals, research laborato-enrichment facilities which the U.S. Enrichment Corpo-rier, nr for any other purpose."

ration leases from the Department of Energy.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is headed by five Commissioners appointed by M,e Presidert and cor> firmed by the Senate fo' ove-year terms. The Chairman of the Commissbn is Dr. Shirley Ann Jack-son. The other Commissioners are Kenneth C. Rogers and Greta J. Dicus. The remaining two comrMon seats are vacant at this time.

Operat ng Data and Enforcement tmrestigators, cnmmittama and Ucensing sermtheCommission Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Two separate offices are responsible for investigations l

Dita-This office analyzes and evaluates operational of possible wrongdoing.

safety data associated with NRC-licensed activities to identify issues that require NRC or industry action.11 j

also idenhfies agency requirements for operational Office of Investigations-This office is responsible for data and related technicalinformation and provides thr-the conduct of investigations of licensees, applications, NRC focal point for coordination of generic operational contractors or vendors. This responsibihty includes investigating all a! legations of wrongdoing by individu-safety data and systems with the industry and other als or organizations other than NRC employees and agencies. In addition, AEOD manages and conducts NRC contractors. In addition, the office keeps abreast the support functions for the NRC's Committee to of inquiries and inspections and advises on the need Review Generic Requirements. Its other responsibili-for formalinvestigations. It also keeps other compo-ties include the development and management of the nents of the agency informed of matters under investi-reactor performance indicators program and the gation as they affect safety matters.

management and direction of programs for diagnostic j

evaluations and investigations of significant operational Office of Inspector General -- The inspector General events, and the conduct of technical training for the is a statutory post mandated by the Inspector General NRC staff through the Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Amendments Act of 1988. The office is responsible for conducting independent reviews and appraisals of intemal programs and for the conduct of investiga-This office also is responsible for developing policy and tions of alleged wrongdoing by NRC employees and maintaining capability for and initiating the NRC's its contractors.

response to incidents and ei-tents involving NRC-licensed facilities and man @ When necessary, the Three independent groups serve the Commission.

NRC Operations Center is activated and an emer-They are:

gency response team fro.m a regional office is dis-patched to the scene. The NRC's role is to (1) monitor Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards-This and evaluate the situation; and (2) provide advice and statutory body of scientists and engineers reviews and information to the licensee, the Federal Emergency makes recommendations to the Commission on all Management Agency (FEMA), other Federal agencies, applications to build or operate nuclear power reactors i

State and local governments and the public.

and on related nuclear safety matters.

i Office of Enforcement-This office develops policies

/.Jvisory Committee on Nuclear Waste-This and programs for enforcement of NRC requirements independent advisory committee provides the Com-it manages major enforcement actions and assesses mission with advice and recommendations conceming the effectiveness and uniformity of enforcement all aspects of nuclear waste management for which the j

actions taken by the regional offices. Enforcement NRC has responsibility.

powers include notices of violations, fines, and orders j

for license modifications, suspension or revocatiorr Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel-Three-member licensing boards are drawn from this panel. They are made up of lawyers and others with expertise in various technical and environmental fields to conduct public hearings on applications to build and operate nuclear power plants and other matters related to the possession and use of nuclear facilities and materials.

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Agency (IAEA) safeguards for the use nf U S.-ongin i

Three Operating Offices Conduct nuclear materialin foreign countnes.

Major Regulatory Activitiep The office also is responsible for directing the The first major reorganization of the NRC since it was implementation of the agency's responsibilities under established in 1975 was implemented in April 1987.

clear Waste Mg Ad of M82, as amended, I

The reorganization reflected changes which had taken which govems the disposal of high level radioactive place over the previous 12 years-progressively less wastes; the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of w

e a@ach Wasm Ng l

involvement with the construction of large, complex nuclear facilities and a greatly increased involvement Amendments Act of 1985 which govern the disposal of j

Iw e ra i am wasks; and h Waum W i

with the operation and maintenance of these facilities.

l Additional preparations have been made to consider Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978. as amended. Iri applications to renew existing nuclear power plant addition, the off, ice is responsible for inspection policy operating licenses and review applications to certTy and for conducting inspections of materials licensees to advanced nuclear power reactor designs.

assure compliance with all NRC requirements and regulations and for assuring the implemenation of the Thr:e operating offices direct the NRC's major regula-U.S.-1AEA Safeguards Agreement at licensed facilities.

toryfechms:

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research-This office Offics of Nuclear Reactor Regulation-The primary has three primary responsibilities: (1) to plan, recom-r:sponsibilities of this office are to conduct the inspec-mend and implement programs of nuclear regulatory tion and licensing activities associated with operating research, standards development and resolution of pow:r reactors that are necessary to protect the public safety issues for nuclear power pha ud other h::lth and safety and to establish a sound regulatory i

facilities regulated t;y the NRC; (2) to develop and fram: work for the future. The Office also is responsible pr mulgate all technical regulations; (3) and to coord,-

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for evaluating applications to build and operate new j

nate research activities wiihin and outside the agency pow:r reactors, to extend or renew current operating including appointment of staff to committees and I

l lic ns:s, for ir:spection and licensing activities related con {erences. The office also coordinates NRC staff p rticipation in standards-related activities of the to th] construction and operation of research and test rs:ctors, and for licensing reactor operators.

t temadmal Atomic Ewgy Ageng ay seNes as a l

i principal point of contact for the Commission with the American National Standards Inst'tute and technical in riddition, the office is responsible for conducting inspections of NRC-licensed activities under its juris-and professional societies on matt ers concerning nuclear standards.

diction to assure that they comply with all NRC regula-tions end requirements. Important elements of this j

progr;m, as it applies to the construction and operation i

of nuclear power plants, include resident inspection and i

systematic assessment of licensee performance (SALP).

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l Offica of Nuclear Material Safety and Safe.

gu:rds-This office is responsible for licensing fuel cycl 3 facilities such as uranium mills and fuel fabrica-l tion plants; for licensing the posse'ssion and aca-d:m'c, medical and commercial uses of radioactive j

materials; for regulating the packaging of radioactive mrt: rials for transport; for developing agency-wide l

policie: governing the safeguarding of nuclear I

faciliti:s and materials at fixed sites and nuclear mat: rials in transport from radiological sabotage, thift or diversion; for certifying safety of two gaseous diffusion plants and for reviewing the application of j

physical security and international Atomic Energy N