ML20125C378
| ML20125C378 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/18/1979 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Cook L AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001080653 | |
| Download: ML20125C378 (14) | |
Text
[(f**%q je UNITED STATES
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g **
C WASHINGTOM, D, C. 20555 S l' b C (Nq December 18, 1979 eg CHAIRMAN l
Mrs. Leona Cook 204 Chesterfield Court Midiand, Michigan 48640
Dear Mrs. Cook:
We promised to report to you on what the Commission is doing to alleviate the kinds of difficulties you and your family encountered in assuming-a resident inspection post.
Your insight has certainly helped the Commission
. focus on the personal and family sacrifices that have been faced by l
inspectors while relocating, working as a resident inspector, and living in the community as a visible NRC representative.
The Office of Inspection and Enforcement (0IE) has just completed its review of the types of hardships your family encountered, with particular emphasis on ways that the agency may alleviate them.
The enclosed copy of that review responds to each issue raised in your letter (Enclosure 1).
Also enclosed for your information is a copy of a recent 01E report on issues concerning the early implementation of the Resident Inspection Program (Enclosure 2).
Parts of this report elaborate on many of the issues you raised (e.g., isolation, no daily professional interaction with NRC peers and transfer of duty stations and household moves).
As J
the enclosures indicate, we have made some progress and present practices are improving compared to those you experienced.
For some of the problems we have not yet decided on specific solutions, but are looking at possible alternatives, some of which may require legislative action.
We will pursue early resolution of these problems.
i One of the most important mechanisms adopted since last writing you may
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be the recer.t designation of a full-time staff contact for the Resident i
Inspection Program (Mr. Elliot Greher, telephone (301) 492-7042).
He is j
defining potential and actual program problems and is directing attention to finding the best solutions.
I also expect a heightened emphasis on j
communications among resident inspectors, their regional counterparts and those in headquarters monitoring the program.
Hopefully, ways can i
be developed to include the families of residents into this communications scheme.
Mr. Greher also will serve as the open line of communication j
with resident inspectors and their families, which you requested.
Q 90009236 soo1oso W
2 Thank you again for writing to us and for giving us the benefit of your insight into one of the most important NRC programs.
I will take whatever actions I can to minimize the personal problems of resident inspectors and their families.
5,incerely,
\\/ /
O i
ohn F. Ahearne J
Enclosures
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'($NCLOSURE F1) ~
ISSUES RAISED BY LEONA COOK D*
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(Reference Mrs. Cook's Letter to Chairman Hendrie, June 11, 1975)
Delays in Makinc Assienments
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u Issue:
Inspectors have on the the basis of informal notification of their new resident assignment - begun the process of moving and then experien:ed delays in receiving official reporting dates.
inconvenienced them, even causing financial loss.These delays have greatly
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The process of getting initial OMB and Congressional approval of the Revised Inspection Program was an reiterative process that did create repeated start /
stop orders and delays.
IE plans for implementing first round assignmen.s were interrupted and delayed on several occasions due to budgetary constraints.
a In retrospect, our interest in prompt implementation may have led to premature indication to the individual inspectors that moves were imminent.
Resolution:
Long range planning and adequate legislative and budgetary authority is now available.
Tne delays in receiving official notification of an assignten.
are not expe:ted with present procedures:
a selection is made from qu.lified applican.s for a specific site; the Regional Director informs the seie::ed indivicual, in writing, of his appointment and latest recorting date; nis is immediately followed by a confirming letter from tne Division of Organization and Personnel; and shortly thereafter, information about agency transfe of cu.y station policies and benefits is sent by Administration's Travel Services Eranch.
We are currently developing an assignment check list to assurs tnese and otner related ma.ters are handled in a timely way.
This list should be in use by tne end of December.
Movin rarilies to Sites Moving nousencic goods have Deen beset with errors and outright incomps ence.
The su::ess with moves have varied consideraoly.
Some indiv. duals repe-; that their move was handled well while others recort significant p oblems. NRC has little control over the government vide rules and regulations for movin; the government's civilian employees.
However, we are now in a bette position to instruct residents on these moves and alert them to problems that can be avoided.
Resolution:
Acministration's Travel Services Branch and the Regio 11 Cffice staf f have become more kno.<1edgeable about tne pitf alls associated witt Trans-
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fer of Duty Stations.
Residents are being briefed on their rignts and av nority over movers.
We will continue collecting an: updatin; infor:stion fror rqsident inspectors to better understand and earlier identify generai cre:lems and to assist in recuesting necessary changes in procedures.
90009238
2 Financial Loss Issue:
Resident inspectors have claimed they have suffered financial loss from selling their homes, moving their household goods, and from changes in equity and tax liability associated with moving.
We have received reports of financial loss being sustained by many resident inspectors, although Mrs. Cook's estimate is higher than most.
These losses appear to come primarily from real estate transactions, but may also include inadequate reimbursement for moving expenses.
Although government reimbursements may have been adequate several years ago, the current real estate market may exace.rbate a resident inspector's moving losses.
For instance, real estate fees to sell houses may exceed GSA reimbursement limits or the local real estate market is so slow that houses cannot be sold at a fair price in the desired time frame.
Resolution: Although many residents have complained about inadequate move reimbursement, specific data is not available comparing actual costs to actual reimbursements.
IE is prepared to survey resident inspectors and other IE inspectors to compare actual costs vs. actual reimbursement.
The analysis of this survey will be completed by February 23, 1980.
The delay is due to Privacy Act requirements in setting up a system of records.
Solutions to any disparities can then be developed and proposed.
We expect to submit a report on our findings and recommenda-tions for alleviating some or all of these problems by March 1980.
Family Orientation Issue:
NRC should establish an orientation program for families of resident inspectors.
Resolution:
We are currently developing a half-day orientation program to be provided in each Regional Office.
Families of resident inspectors would be informed about the goals and objectives of the Resident Program, the standards of conduct and work schedule, and what can be expected in moving to and establishing a home in the area.
These orientation sessions will begin in December 1979.
We also intend to prepare " Post" reports describing the educational, social, and other amenities in each site area.
The first two examples will be produced in January 1980 and, if well received, each Regional Office will prepare similar reports for each of its sites.
By January 1980 we expect to make a decision about sponsoring a Resident Inspector Newsletter.
A large portion of the Newsletter could be devoted to the interests of inspector families.
Attacks on Resident Insoector Intecritv l
Issue:
The NRC should make a statement of defense when an inspector's integrity is attacked.
When and how should this be done?
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Mr. Cook was accused by Mr. Myron Cherry in November 1978 of being "co-opted" by Consumers Power Company.
These charges were published in the local papers.
Until the matter was investigated by OIA, no statement of q
defense was made by NRC on behalf of Mr. Cook.
The OIA investigation
.J took about six months and did not substantiate Mr. Cherry's allegation.
The OIA report has not been released to the public but a note was sent
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U to the ASLB noting the final detennination.
Our agency's present practice of having another NRC office conduct an independent investigation may be prudent.
Nevertheless, if the investigation takes too long to complete or the final report is not released, we may be doing an injustice to the
._1 inspector. We feel Mr. Cook, his family, and any other inspector wrongly
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accused should be publicly exonerated, as soon as possible.
R Resolution:
We expect instances of unsubstantiated accusations.will i
' continue to occur and recognize that prompt action on the part of NRC is
-y appropriate.
Any special investig'ations into allegations of resident inspector misconduct will be given priority in line with a goal of completing that investigation in one month.
How to announce the results of those inspections is an important concern, and we will review the
.f possible alternatives in more detail.
Since the number of allegations
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is expected to be low and the factual circumstances varied, future allegations will likely be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Feelines of Professional Insecurity and Isolation ~
Issue:
Resident inspectors are out of the mainstream of NRC activities and feel they can too easily be subject to political pressures or become a scapegoat.
We are not aware Of any NRC wavering on continuing and strengthening the Resident Inspection Program, but a person's perception can be drastically different when they are located (and to some extent isolated) 800 miles from where the decisions are being made. Mrs. Cook's feelings can easily be understood considering the atmosphere at Midland, the accusations against her husband, and the financial pressures.
Nevertheless, the resident inspector is in the limelight and has implicitly assumed responsibility for the day-to-day regulation oversight to assume plant safety.
Despite technical and administrative support from the regional offices and from headquarters, the resident inspector is "the NRC" at that site.
It is only natural that the resident inspector may be viewed by the public as accountable when problems occur.
The NRC recognizes it may have to confront this problem from time to time.
Resolution:
The recent designation of a staff contact having close con-nections with those responsible for implementing the Resident Program provides a mechanism for answering questions promptly and with authority.
Our expectations for more organized communications between residents, regionai personnel and headquarters personnel should also alleviate such
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concerns.
Even tne isolation may be lessened, at least at operating sites, by naving two or more inspectors at each site.
90009240
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o Additional Contact with Local Media and Conaress 1ssue:
Public affairs on the Resident Program should not cease once the j
site is manned.
Communications with Congress can be ir.iproved.
- 1 Presently a press release to the local media is made for new residents.
Periodic, additional releases about the Resident and his duties may be L
helpful.
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We believe that the Agency has and is adequately informing Congress about the Resident Inspection Program; however, it may be worthwhile 1
providing additional information to those individual Congressman in whose districts resident sites are located.
Resolution:
Discussions will be held with the Office of Public Affairs a
and Office of Congressional Affairs to consider expanded and continuing contacts with local media and local Congressmen.
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REPORT ON ISSUES RAISED IN iH THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESIDENT INSPECTOR PROGRAM i
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3ACKGROUND i
Tne Resident Inspector Program was first conceived nearly 3 years ago in an attempt to improve federal oversight of the nuclear industry.
Before that, in June 1974, the Office of Inspection and Enforcement initiated a trial r
program to evaluate the concept of assigning inspectors to locations near
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nuclear power reactors.
In this two year trial, two NRC inspectors were assigned to locations from which th~ y were able to inspect a total of four reactor sites.
e The evaluation of this trial program--SECY 77-138--concluded that the concept of resident inspection is viable because it can provide a number of significant F-benefits, principally those relating to the efficient and effective use of an i
inspector's tiTae.
A soecial study group was established in 1977 to evaluate inspection alternatives.
Tneir first product was a paper describing and evaluating four alternative T
resident. inspector concepts.
The paper recommended the concept of full-time
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or. site inspectors, what is now called the Resident Inspector Progra::r, as the i
preferrsd alternative.
The cualitative evaluation for this chosen alternative - locating an inspector at each site - cited both positive and negative features:
" Develop considerable familiarity with the licensee f acility" "without periodic reassignment, however, an inspector might not gain the creadth of experience that comes from exposure to a number of c'ifferent f a:Hlities" "providing formai training to onsite inspectors would pose practical logisti:s problems" "onsite inspectors would also lose the daily orcfessional intera:. ion wi.n NRC peers"
" inspectors would be able to conouct inspections at various times during the (f acility's) daily work cycle"
" inspector presence onsite would be significantly increased" (inspector presence) "could be selectively applied to emphasize safety-related licensee activities" j
"inspe: tion activities would be essentially unant.ounced" "ampie capertunity to detect and verify correction of matters of safety cencern"
";nis a;;rcach effers greater risk of loss of inspector obje: tivi.y" 90009242 4
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" potential for inspector involvement in the licensee's internal decision-mak'ng process" "the-inspe: tor might find professional and so:ial peers only among the licensee employees"
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" increased inspector presence onsi.te...should have a positive influence on (licensee) motivation" "the activities available for inspection should be sufficient to make
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full and meaningful use of the inspector's time."
a Resident inspection was initiated in th.e late spring of 1978 with the canning of 15 operating reactor sites, 5 reactor co?..;ruction sites and.2 fuel f acility
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sites.
The negative technical features were still evident:
reduced expose,re to'many facilities, difficulty in providing training, no daily professional interaction with NRC peers, risk of objectivity loss (or licensee " capture";,
J and invo'1vement in licensee decision-making.
pE also evident:
Negative personal factors were professional and social peers.24' heur on-call status and licensee employees being th g
experience -- transfer of duty station and a household move in accordan
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government regulations.
Following the experience with. TMI, IE proposed an expanded resident inspe::or increasing the numbers of resident inspectors assigned to each site
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- ermit daily checks of critical safety systems.
It would It would provide for more routine inspection of licensee operations on swing shif ts, back shifts and
-b we e kends.
It would ensure adequate and prompt coverage of incidents.
n The expanded resident features cited above by providing the resident inspector with an
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- ne site.
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- 55UES Less of Obiectivity (or " capture") has been the most serious concern about resioen. inspe:: ion even prior to the 1974 to 1976 trial program.
Sucn a ioss of objectivity is inherent in a situation where an inspector is in contact with a single licensee on a continual basis while contact with his NRC peers is infrequent at best.
Concern about loss of objectivity may even strain the contacts with NRC peers, establishing a feeling that each visiting insoe: tor is spying on the resident inspector.
IE managers' and supervisors' concern
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for loss of objectivity was the single major objection to initiating the l
resident inspector program.
Similar concerns were expressed as the number one i
issue by inspection canagement in other Federal agencies. (See the IE contracted
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stucy of other agency inspection and enforcement experien:es:
NUREG/CR-0051 anc NUREG/CR-00E2, " Evaluation of Inspection and Enforcement Programs cf 0:ner Regulatory, Safety, and Professional Organizations".)
'.~ has initiate: a varity of mechanisms to limit and identify losses cf etjet-tivity.
-Prospe:tive resideat inspectors are sele::ed with the idea of rir.imi:ir.;
90009243
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AX this concern; only balanced, mature but independent inspectors have been chosen for site assignments.
Previous employment at the site or with that utility management is a reason for rejecting an applicant for a specific site.
r The pre-transfer training for prospective resident inspectors warns about d
" capture" and sucgests precautions to be taken.
~n A code of conduct was issued whien establishes very strict limitations on relationships between inspectors r
and licensees, forbidding most social contacts and even carpooling arrangements.
Frecuent contact and oversight by Regional supervisors is directed te detecting
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incipient " capture".
Periodic travel back to Regional Offices provides an
'W opportunity for reemphasizing the concern about " capture".
A separate audit f.#
whether inspector objectivity is~being maintained. group, the Performanc
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-.FF by periodic audit inspections of each licensee.
PAT will accomplish this Resident assignments are to be limited to 3 years at any one site 'as." capture" appears more probable in
'd longer assignments.
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Nevertheless, the most effective way of assuring against " capture" is to provide a peer with whom the resident inspector can interact.
This was con-sistently the recommendation of other agencies with a resident inspector program (see NUREG CR-0051).
such a peer at operating reactor sites.The expanded resident inspector program provides 2 resident inspectors.
Each site will now have a minimum of as will the training and retraining emphasis.Meanwhile, the careful selection process Close resident oversight will also continue. On the other hand, some of the elements in the code of conduct may be eased and assignments hay be lengthened to as long as five years.
Isolation from the NRC is the second concern.
anc " capture" can very rapidly become cause and effect.In fact feelings of isolati-on The remote location of mest reactor facilities inevitably strengthens feelings of isciation as does lengthening assignment as a resident or reassignments from one site to ano ner.
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IE's response to isolation has been nonspecific; the program is too new for situations to have surf aced that require a solution.
General solutions have beer. adopted.. Regions are beginning to schedule periodic meetings bringing
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together resident inspectors to discuss site and office issues among themselvss and with Regional m.nagement.
A Headquarters staffer is usually irrvited to these meetings to participate as both a listener and as a discussion leader.
Resioent inspectors receive copies.of the IE Daily Reports, that is, the 1
reports generated daily by each Regional Office.
We may eventually abstract these daily reports along with other, appropriate information so as to reduce
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the cuplication and volume of such reading without reducing content.
Supervisors main ain frecuent contact with their residents.
Usually, 3 or 4 sites are assigned to each supervisor and telephone contact can be a daily occurrence.
Tne Regional staff coordinates the inspection activities for a site, scheduling i
the various Region-based specialists that go to each site anc the com:ination of insoe: tion by resident and regional inspectors.
Nevertheless, at the site m
the esicent inspector holds a unique position.
inte views for region-based inspectors and must participate in - and evenHe may part
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exit interviews.
This participation also snould engender a feeling of belo.ging to tne total regional inspection prograc 90009244
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l A' A Headouarters contact has been designated to whom residents and regional people can turn for information or to resolve problems.
He has sent current resicents a let.er informing them of his availability by phone, either in the office or at home.
He plans to continue sending such letters during the next 12 to 18 months, thru full-scale implementation of the program.
He also has plans to visit with residents at their sites.
Durino these visits he will discuss their modus cperandi to both keep himself " calibrated" on how they are handling the icb and r
to spot generic problems.
He excects to host seminars in Headquarters wnere groups of resioents can discuss their experiences and problems.
He will attend many of the regional gatherings of residents so as to become acquainted with many residents, particularly those he can't personally visit.
I Nevertheless, the.best way to prevent feelings of isolation is to assign addi-tional inspectors to a site.
The expanded program's minimum of 2 inspectors at pre-operating and operating site helps s'olve the isolation problem in acdition to F
its basic purpose of increasing onsite inspection and its prime advantage of reducing concerns for " capture".
All operating sites canned by the end of FY 1983 will meet this 2 person minimum.
Five sites will have 3 resident inspect:rs.
Site offices are also expected to have part-time clerical assistance.
With a cor-piement of 3 to 4 NRC employees, feelings of isolation could be nonexistent.
Reduced Exposure to Many Facilities arises naturally f rom a resident assignment.
ixposure to cifferent f acilities that comes from inspecting them results in a broad background and balanced judgement that is invaluacie.
It is a basi: and positive attribute of a Regio'n-based inspection program.
Currently, lead residents have two or more years of experience as a Region-based resicent and nave obtained this multifacility exposure.
On the other hand, many of th:se hired for the expanded program, the second and third inspectors at a site, will not have such experien:e.
Those inspectors will be hired directly to a site so.
as to achieve manning commitments and to reduce household move problems.
Even for those with prior exposure and experience at otner sites, an: surely f:r tnose with (at best) limited exposure, a resident assignment will mean re:U:ed exoosure.
In place of a. broad exposure, resident inspectors will gain in-depth knowledge of their site anc facilities.
This snould encourage directed inspections with a high content of independent observation and verification without a continuing need for expensive pre-inspection preparation.
It should be more effective tnan its predecessor, the Region-based. inspection program.
Thus, reduced exposure to other facilities may be a sacrifice one must bear to have a resident inspector p rog ra.m.
Nevertheless, su:h exoosure may still be obtainable althougn at a lower frecuendy.
Resident inspectors will rotate in their assignments and, over time, handle other facilities.
Inei., they can use what they have learned in the previous assign-cents with other f acilities.
Temporary reassignments may te necessary to cover fer illness, vacations, and gaps in filling vacant positions at other sites, althot:gn most of this coverage will come f rom ne regional office.
Tnese will also te broacening experience.
Meanwnile new hires will have 9 to 12 mon ns of training which may involve inspections at sites other than the one of wni:n i
.ney a re. assignet.
Such other site inspection is being proposed to specifically creacen. heir exoerience.
90009245
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a Difficuliv in Providine Traininc occurs when there. is only one resident at a site.
wno covers for nim wnen ne is receiving training? While a similar questien can be asked of his taking sick or annual leave, his entitlement to these require coverage even if it stretches resour:es.
But training may be viewed as a luxury if resources must be stretched to proviie coverage.
Again, the expanded program yields a natural solution by establishing the 7
cove. rage right at the site.
The resident inspectors will be expe:ted to schedule their annual leave and training so that continuous f acility coverage can be maintained.
Then Regional resources need be stretched to provide coverage only in limited cases, such as extended illness or unplanned vacancies.
Training for experienced residents cou*id be accomplished via self study courses.
This was proposed for the pre expanded prograc and continues to'have value in the' expanded program.
IE's' Training Branch and its contractors.sould prepire "home study" texts and certifying exams that would be distributed in accordance with a-specific schedule for updating resident inspector training.
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new hires will involve integrating Headquarters and simulator courses with
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Most of this d
training will take place at the site.
Regional supervisors and IE's Training Branch will share the training certification responsibilities.
No Daily Drofessional Interaction with NRC Peers also reduces the broadened horizons valuable to assessing situations.
Contact and discussion with peers a
provides additional information about a variety of situations and consequently 3
more balanced judgement that can be aoplied to future situations.
It adds to the 1
knowledge already obtained in inspecting many f acilities.
Of course, the resident inspector has contact with one's peers when a Regional inspector or inspe: tion -
team visits the site.
Similarly, there is almost daily contact with the Regional supervisor.
But, the give and take of hallway discussions is missing as are the Regional meetings on topics of current interest.
The expanded resident program does not really ameliorate this issue since all residents at a site are experiencing the same licensee.
Wnat differences and knowledge each resident brings in terms of previous experience may soon transfe, j
over to the other resicent(s) at the site.
They must rely on their Regional contact to serve as a conduit for their experiences and for those of other residents at other sites.
It may be desirable to devote more time to telephone d.,
description of interesting situations, relying upon the Regional Office contact j
4 to remember these and recall similar situations when necessary.
Regions may be able to record inspector lectures on unusual situations and distribute
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them to their resident inspectors and even to other Regions.
Periodic get-
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tnoethers of residents could feature an adult version of show and tell to
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encourage dissemination of information on valued experiences.
z Involvement in Licensee Decision-Makinc often arises when the licensee is
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unsure of his regulatory position.
heretofore, insee: tors hava been instructed to avoid giving advice.
TMI may have shifted eitner the NRC's position or tne
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licensee's ieverage in obtaining advice.
With a resident inspector onsite it i
oecomes hardtr for both him and the NRC to avoid the consecuences of n:t answering requests for advice or of' not assuming an even more direct rcie in licensee ce:ision-making.
90009246
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Until there is a clear change in the NRC position, insce: tors must av:id giving acvice or otnerwise participating in the licensee's decision-making process. This will be emphasized in the training of residents, in periodi:
meetings of residents with regional supervision, and in the resident inspecter's C'.
handocok.
24-Hour On-Call Status is a desirable feature from tne NRC's point of view.
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Program since there was no guarantee that the single resident inspector can be i
reached when he was not at nis duty station or at his residence.
The expanded y
resident program offers a better opportunity to achieve a form of 24-hour coverage at operating plants since 2 or 3 resident inspectors could rotate
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on-call coverage via a pager/ beeper device.
From the inspector's point of view, 24-hour on-call sta.us may be a ~ hardship, one that he would assume much more frecuently then any regional office-based inspector.
But with the
..I expanded program his on-call status could be shared among all th'e site residen.s.
An associated problem is compensation for such responses when they fall outsice the resident's 40-hour work week.
NRC personnel policy requires that profes-sionals receive comp time in return for approved overtice.
Even at sites with 2 or 3 resicent inspectors offering como time may not be most beneficial to the NRC.
- Moreover, resident inspectors are usually not able to use a:: rued comp time.
If they do use. it, the inspection program might suffer.
Casn cayments for overtime work would be more beneficial.
A proposed amen: ent to the eersonnel policy has beer l recently adopted and I~ is currently seeking an exception for resioent inspectors under this admendment.
We might pursue that possibility of developing a special salary schedule for resicent inspectors predicated on their 24-hour, on-call status and otner responsibilities not applicable to the regional insoe tors.
NRC could seek a: roval for an early retirement program similar to that offered to military an( police functions that serve on an on call status.
These solutions may recuire legislation.
Licensee Employees Eeino the Only Professional and Sc:ial Peers is an unavoid-Ecie prcoiem as ion; as tne inspe: tor's nousing cnoices are ilmited.
At many sites tney are not limited and a resident inspector can choose a location where other professional and social peers abound.
Even for these sites the resident inspector must be careful. to avoid contacts with licensee employees and this may limit some of his social and recreational activities.
For some sites, particularly the most remote ones, housing choices are limited.
The resident inspector may have to choose between living in a circumscribe:
manner or in commuting long distan:es to a larger metropolitan area.
In reviewin; ins housing choices made by current resicent inspectors it is ebvious nat they have adjuste: to these restrictions.
A related ouestion concerns car pooling with li:ensee emoloyees or usin; licensee busing services.
Currently, tne resident's cc:e of conduct coes not oermit ther.o participate in su:n car pools and services.
If particication in tnese are not allowed an: tne gas price trunch continues or worsens, resicant i
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inspectors may be suffering an exceptional financial hardship.
We have re:uested funds from OMS to provide a four wheel drive, emergency response vehicle for every site.
Use of these vehicles for 24-hour on-call readiness could alleviate some of the transportation problems.
If such venicles are to be used for this purpose, however, legislation may be necesary to provide an exception to the prohibition against such use set forth in 31 U.S.C. Sec. 638(c)(2).
Transfer of Dutv Skations and Household Moves have been the source of most F
complaints oy resioent inspectors.
Government regulations and the financial limits they set may not be equal to current costs for some individuals.
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Housing in metropolitan areas has increased so much in value that broker fees and other allowed expenses easily exce~ed the maximum permitted.for reimbursement by these regulations: 5S,000.
In the Chicago area it is difficult to sell a house because of tne net ou~tflow of middleclass families.
There is an over-abundance of houses on the market.
In Philaceiphia there is a similar (altneugh lesser) situation.
In Texas a usury law limitation on mortgage interest e
completely dried up mortage funcs.
California house prices are the higaest in a
tne country, restricting buying and selling opportunities.
Similar problems may work against inspectors at the house buying end of the move.
M:ving costs have also risen, so that moves often cost more than government 4
re;ulations allow.
It is not difficult for an inspector's possessions to ex:eed the 11,000 :ound limit' on married employee moves.
GSA restric. ions er tna choice of movers have too often resulted in camaged possessions be:ause tne contract movers used appear incompetent or careless.
Per diem allowan:es for terocrary cuarters at the new duty station may not match with current hotel costs or provide for long stays cue to difficuhies in buying houses.
W,te IE employees have become more adept at working within these rules, the ef f orts are always time consuming, of ten f rustrating, and frecuently ccstly.
P,esicent inspec. ors report they have lost considerably in their moves and t,ey ce not look forward to a repeat performance.
5:1utions are ne:essary to de er an una::eptably high turnover ra.e when site reassignments begin, pernaos as early as next ye:r.
While this implementing period - thru. FY 1981 will have tne most moves, the steady state future of the mid 1980's will have 60 to 90 moves, mostly reassignments, every year.
i A number of possibilities might be considered.
Legislation can be introduced
~
to :nange the laws and increase allowed limits fer reimbursible expense on e
household moves, either government-wice or as a special case for the NP.C.
ine II.E: methods could De acopted: a guaranteed return to your none region and/ -
a living allowance in the remote iocation.
Special sairry schedules might be
- nsicered for resident inspectors so that their overall comoensation is com: arable to what industry, witn its better move reimoursements, would offe*.
i Tours of cuty migh, be stretched - to 5, 6, or 7 years - se as to spread the h
1:ss out more.
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