ML20127E303
| ML20127E303 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/01/1992 |
| From: | Harold Denton NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| SECY-92-333, NUDOCS 9210070150 | |
| Download: ML20127E303 (8) | |
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9 POLICY ISSUE E
(Notation Vote):
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- E October 1, 1992 SECY-92-333 For:
The Commissioners From:
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of International Programs Sub.iect:
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN NRC POSITION ON THE STAFF 0F THE.US MISSION TO THE EC IN BRUSSELS OR ON THE NUCLEAR SAFETY-SECRETARIAT OF THE G-24 TO ASSIST ~IN COORDINATION OF NUCLEAR-SAFETY ASSISTANCE WITH EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER S0VIET UNION Purcose:
To respond to the SRM on SECY 92-210:regarding the possi-Lility of sending an NRC person to the U.S. Mission to the EC in Brussels and to request the Commission.to note the-staff's plans not to pursue such a position ~at:this time but instead to send an NRC nuclear safety expert.to: work for_a brief period with the Administrator of the G-24 nuclear safety secretariat in Brussels,-Belgium.
Backaround:
In SRM 91-0821B the Commission expressed support for-establishing "an NRC position at the U.S. Mission to UN Organizations iri Vienna, Austria, to-represent more
'e-effectively the NRC's interests with regard tr International Atomic Energy Agency."
In.SPS 5 117 the-Commission, responding to SECY-91-396A, approved "...the establishment of a multi-year position at the U.S. Mission
...at the senior level and (that it] be : filled by employees in the new ' Senior Level' system or the SES."
Contact:
H. B. Congdon, DIP NOTE:
TO BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE l
504-2744 WHEN THE FINAL SRM IS MADE AVAILABLE fGMWo/6'O WP fu W
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_ 2 SECY-92-210_ discussed whether it was still important to assign an NRC official to the Vienna Mission, given the priority being placed on assistance to the new independent states of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and Eastern Europe (EE).
Rather i; suggested the possibility of establishing a position at the U.S. Mission to the European Community (EC) in Brussels to help coordinate nuclear safety assistance-with the EC.
In the SRM on SECY 92-210, the Commission rr. affirmed its interest in assigning a senior level NRC employee to the U.S. Mission in Vienna on a trial basis but also requested a paper addressing whether there would be a benefit in stationing a senior technical adviser at the U.S.
Mission to the EC in Brussels.
This paper assesses the various options to be considered in establishing such a position in light af recent developments in mechanisms fo'r international coordi... tion of nuclear safety assistance to the FSU and Eastern Europe by the so-called "G-24" in Brussels.
Discussion:
Increased international activity with Rassia _ and Ukr' aine, as well as the countries of Eastern Europe, has placed additional and unanticipated demands on NRC resources.
NRC's lack-of adequate staff resources to undertake major new assistance programs, combined with the strong interest and increased involvement of Western Europe in' assuring the safety of Soviet-designed reactors, has led to the need for better international coordination of safety assistance '
activities.
This coordination is centered in the G-24 -- an ad hoc group of western-oriented democracies -- established in-Brussels and staffed by'the secretariat of the European Community.
Because.there had been problems in the G-24's coordination 1
of international naclear_ safety assistance to Eastern Europe during 1991, and because there were concerns regarding possible-favoritism to Western European contractors (at the expense of the United States, Canada, and Japan) in.
providing such assistance, the U.S. sought an a R rnative coordination mechanism for the Lisbon and G-7 Munich Summit initiatives in nuclear safety assistance to Russia and Ukraine.
In response, EC negotiators -- wishing to retain their coordinating role -- promised an " improved" mechanism for coordinating nuclear safety assistance at the G-24 and a
" level playing field" for commercial interests of all participating states.
After the July 1992 Munich Summit agreed to expand nuclear safety assistance to the FSU and EE, an important G-24 coordination meeting was held in Brussels July 15-16. At this meeting, as reported ir. State Department cable Brussels 9391, members of the G-24 nuclear safety working group tentatively agreed on a mechanism for coordinating
3 assistance which would include a plenary working group, a steering committee, and, to assist these two bodies:
... a secretariat headed by an administrator and staff provided by the CEC (Commission of the European Communities) and including a small number of seconded experts.
... The secretariat shall review the implementation of the action plan, compile relevant conclusions and recommendations, provide assistance to the Steering Committee and prepare regular and timely reports which will be made available to all participants.
"The secretariat shall administer the G-24 database which will contain information on assistance programs.
to meet G-24 needs. Donors and recipients daU suggest database improvements and continue to provide 1
2 updated information. This database should be open to all participants in the G-24 coordination mechanism."
ine NRC representative on tne U.S. delegation to the July meeting (J. Shea, 0IP) explored with the Science Counselor at the U.S. Mission to the EC the possibility of placing an NRC representative at the Mission. The Science Counselor said the Mission science section was seriously _ understaffed and could use help covering nuclear issues. Such a person could also coordinate nuclear ' issues involving the. IAEA, NEA, and the EC. However, he said, the EPA had also recently requested placement of a representative at the Mission, and several other agencies are actively interested in placing people there, since Brussels is the headquarters of the EC and the importance of U.S. relations with the EC is expected to grow in the future. NRC would therefore have to compete with other U.S. Government ager.cies seeking such 1
a position, and would have to make a very strong case for 3
the need for such a person at the Mission.
If the person were able to help with a broad range of nuclear (and energy) related issues, this could make the case stronger.
Also in July a Department of State staff member asked whether the NRC would be willing to send-a qualified person to Brussels to serve. at_NRC expense, as a member of the G-24's nuclear safety Administrator's staff to help support U.S. interests. When OIP officials replied that NRC was considering the question of-assigning an officer to the U.S. Mission in Brussels, the State Department official.
expressed views similar to that of the EC Hission Science Counselor regarding the need for help in the nuclear area but even more negative regarding prospects for NRC obtaining such a position.
In addition to the arguments cited above, this official also said the Misrion would have difficulty absorbing aiditional agency representatives, and mentioned 1
that some agencies have been seeking positions in Brussels for several years, further reducing the chances for early action on an NRC position.
The State Department official pointed out, however, that NRC could quickly place a person on the G-24 nuclear safety secretariat, and asked whether NRC would be willing to do so.
She stressed the importance of having a qualified U.S.
person on the secretariat at an early date to represent U.S.
nuclear safety interests and help shape procedures and policy.
She urged the NRC to assign a person to the secretariat instead of seeking a position at the Mission.
This State Department interest was reaffirmed recently during a subsequent G-24 plenary working group meeting September 14-15 in Brussels.
At this meeting the U.S. stressed that the G-24 safety assistance mechanism not be dominated by the EC. The EC proved willing to give up the chairmanship of the G-24 Steering Committee but retained the position of
" Administrator" of the G-24 nuclear safety secretariat.
This position will be filled by Dr. Edward Bennett, currently Director of Nuclear Safety for the EC's Directorate-General for the Environment and Nuclear Safety.
(State Cables Brussels 11851 and Brussels 11897 report more fully on developments at the meeting.) The secretariat is now actively seeking assistance in implementing the G-7 Summit and Lisbon nuclear safety initiatives, and a number of countries have expressed interest in serving on the Administrator's staff.
The staff believes NRC should move quickly to send a person to serve with the G-24 safety secretariat for an assignment of several months, after which NRC can evaluate the need to continue this position and/or whether to approach the Department of State more formally on the prospects for obtaining an NRC position at the U.S. Mission to the-EC.
Assignment of an NRC employee to the Administrator's staff would enhance NRC's access to and exchange of technical information with other countries concerning nuclear safety enhancements in the FSV and EE. Such a course of action would also take cognizance of (1) the long lead time it has taken NRC to establish a nuclear safety position at the U.S.
Mission to UN Organizations in Vienna, even without-the obstacles present in Brussels; (2) the informal cautions to NRC about joining the ranks of federal agencies seeking a senior position for one of its employees at the U.S. Mission in Brussels, and (3) the encouragement and urgency expressed by the State Department regarding providing a person for the G-24 safety coordination effort.
5 Accordingly, the EDO has decided to solicit from the staff volunteers for a middle-grade technical person to assume a i
3-4 month position on the staff of the G-24 Administrator in i
Brussels (see attached memo from the Deputy E00 to Office Directors). OIP understands the EC Secretariat would like a minimum six-month assignment for this position, which would cost approximately $45,000 (in per diem and transportation) plus flRC salary and benefits.
Such an assignment would utilize one half of an FTE. OIP would seek AID funding for per diem and transportation costs for this position.
If AID funds are not available, 0IP would use program support funds which were previously planned for a cost-free expert at the IAEA, but which are not expected to be used in FY93.
Assuming fiRC can locate a suitable, available candidate from among the staff, such an assignment would cover flRC's chief current interests in Brussels and allow access to the secretariat and representatives of member countries, including the recipient states, pending a broader decision on the permanent assignment of an flRC staff member to either the Mission or the secretariat.
This subsequent decision can then be based on:
a better understanding of the nature of the work
=
following the initial adjustment period, when programs l
are just getting under way; l
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an assessment of whether an tiRC official on site would add sufficient value to project implementation and l
coordination to warrant expending the necessary l
resources required by a longer term assignment (e.g.,
1-2 years); and an evaluation of whether the most appropriate venue
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for a nuclear safety officer would be at the Mission or at the Secretariat.
I Recomendation:
That the Commission note the staff's plans (1) to provide an appropriate staff member to work in Brussels, Belgium _ for a 3-6 month period with the Administrator of the G-24 nuclear safety secretariat to assist in coordination of nuclear safety assistance to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, and (2) to defer consideration of an flRC position at the U.S. Mission to the EC until the results of this secretariat assignment have been assessed.
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Coordination:
The Executive Director for Operations concurs and 0GC has l
no legal objection.
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of International Programs
Attachment:
l Memo from J. Sniezek to Office Directors and Regiona.
Administrators dtd 9/17/92 P
Commissioners' comments or consent should be provided directly to the Office of the Secretary by COB Friday, October 16, 1992.
Cornission Staff Office comments, if any, should be submitted to the Commit..ioners NLT Friday, October 9, 1992, with an infor-mation copy to the Office of the Secretary.
If the paper is of such a nature that it requires additional review and comment, the Commissioners and the Secretariat should be apprised of when ccaments may be expected.
DISTRIBUTION:
Cormissioners OGC OCAls OIG IP OCis OPA OPP REGIONid OFFICES EDO SECY
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION A
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O 7 1992 l
NOTE TO: Tom Hurley Eric Beckjord Bob Bernero Ed Jordan Tim Martin Stu Ebneter Bert Davis Jim Milhoan Jack Martin There is an opportunity for a good grade 13 or 14 technical staffer in the agency to gain broad international experience working in the Secretariat for the G-24 Group associated with Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
The NRC would make this a 3-4 month assignment.
It should provide an interesting challenge for the individual (s) selected.
Please canvas your staff and let Jake Wechselberger (504-1727) know of the results and your recommendations within the next week or so.
Phone calls are okay.
Attached is a brief job desc. iptio i of the duties involved.
h kd444L in Sniezek
Attachment:
Job Description cc:
H. Denton P. Bird ATTACHMENT
N J06 DESCRIPTIOi For a National Eroert to be detaebed to the G-24 Nuclear Safety Secretariat Outy station:
Brussels CEC Headcuarters, DG XI.
G-24 thclear Safety Secretariat.
Travel assigt."Jonts:
The expert is expected to travel to Central and.
Eastern Eurcoo. the former Sovlat Union, the FAEA in Vienna and G-24 donor countries as rsquired.
When needed:
As soon as cossible.
Duties To work uncer the supervision of the CEC acministrator heading the G-24 lbc l.e a r Safety Secretarfat on the inclementat ion of activit ies otitlined in the terms of reference for coordinatfon.
Areas of work:
- G-24 Secretariat work including Dreptration of progress recorts and eventual par t ic ipa t ton in specialized technical working groups.
- Procaratory work for the meetings of the G-24 Steerlig Committee and the Plenary Working Group.
- 1.laison with countries and irtt ernat ional organ (2ations participating in the G-24 Coordination Wochanism.
- Coordination of G-24 assistance aimed at leproving operational safety. Implemerting notr-term technical
- fires, and strengthening regula. tory regimes as appropriate.
- Enhancement of technical aspects and updating of irrformation in the G-24 Data, base.
Contrac.tual arrangscents:
- The asserts will t>e nominated by the competent na.t lona l authorities in consultation with tire CEC.
- The arrangements will follow the practic'eq in force between the CEC and Member states for catacning national ergerts,
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OFFICE OF THE -
SECRETARY October 30,--1992 p
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MEMORAllDUM FOR:
Harold R. Denton, Direcbb'"
Office of International Programs-James M. Taylor Executive Director for Ope ions FROM:
Samuel J. Chilk,.Secretar
SUBJECT:
SECY-92-333 - ESTABLISHMENT OF AN !TRC.
POSITION ON THE STAFF OF THE US MISSION-To THE'EC IN BRUSSELS OR ON THE NUCLEAR' SAFETY
-SECRETARIAT OF THE'G-24 TO ASSIST IN-COORDINATION OF NUCLEAR SAFETY ASSISTANCE WITH1 EASTERN EUROPE AND THE FORMER SOVIET UNION The commission (with all Commissioners _ agreeing) has approved the staff's plan to provide a staff member.to work in Brussels, Belgium for a 3-6 month period with the-Administrator---of.the G-24 nuclear safety secretariat to assist in coordination-of the
. nuclear safety assistance to the former -Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
The_ Commission-believes that a candidate with some policy experience would be-best for this-initial-assignment.-
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The staff should closely monitor the usefulness of this position-from the NRC-international regulatory aspect-and provide a' __
recommendation on maintaining an NRC position at-the U.S'. Mission-l
-to the.EC when the results of this secretariat assignment have been assessed.
(IP/EDO)
(SECY Suspense:
7/16/93) i cc:
The Chairman Commissioner Rogers Commissioner Curtisc-Commissioner Remick Commissioner'de Pianque OGC OIG'-
Office Directors, Regions (via E-Mail)
OP, SDBU/CR, - ASLBP (via FAX) _
SECY NOTE:
THIS SRM, GECY-92-333, AND THE VOTE SHEETS OF THE-L
-CHAIRMAN, AND COMMISSIONERS ROGERS, CURTISS AND ']
_h de PLANQUE WILL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILADLE 10 WORKING DAYS FROM THE-DATE OF THIS SRM j0 180018 6
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