ML20128J049
| ML20128J049 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/04/1996 |
| From: | Clark K NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION II) |
| To: | Beecher B NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA) |
| References | |
| DSI-14-00001, DSI-14-1, NUDOCS 9610100165 | |
| Download: ML20128J049 (2) | |
Text
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C 0CT - 4 1996 office of the D
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Bill Beecher Director. Office of Dublic Affairs FROMi Ken Clark Senior Public Affairs Officer. Region II l
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SUBJECT:
Strategic Assessment Comments
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This responds to your solicitation of comments on the NRC's Strategic Assessment and Rebaselining Project's Direction Setting Issue 14 called "Public Communication Issues." While reflective of a mammoth undertaking, the report is replete with subfusc verbosity, and is absent information useful to l
"stakeholders" in understanding where the agency is going and what is going to l
happen to them.
Without suggestion as to alternatives. I can tell you that the almost universal reaction of staff members I have talked to, after attempting to read the document, has been to ask. "what does it mean?" Some regional employes express a concern that they are to become bagholders, not stakeholders As to DSI 14 (Public Communication Initiatives). it has been my impression for the past 22 years that we have been attempting to accomplish all of the goals listed in the options. One option is to tontinue what i-s called the existing approach.
A sub-option suggested is to focus on maximizing effectiveness and economy.
Is this a new idea which we have not been following in our existing efforts? Or, does this mean, as some suspect, that " maximizing effectiveness and l
economy" has, as a " subsumed agenda." the transfer of regional jobs to l
headquarters?
If so, how will such " efficiency" enhance accomplishment of l
Options 2 and/or 3 (priority on early identification of public concerns and expanding public outreach)?
Continued attention to use of technological advances in the dissemination of information is essential but should not be accomplished through the abandonment of traditional means. Internet access is still largely for the well-to-do who can afford computers and monthly access fees. The less affluent will be slow to take advantage of costly electronic communications equipment and service. Developmbnt of electronic information dissemination is im)ortant. but contact with the public will continue to be achieved primarily throug 1 the news media. Public involvement and public confidence in the NRC will be most affected by radio, television and newspaper coverage of this agency's actions.
Whatever organizational form the agency assumes, its public affairs office will continue a front line stance. E-mail. Voice Mail and automated answering systems requiring callers to submit to barrages of idiotic button-pushing instructions 961010o165 96100(
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,,...e, have dehumanized the basic communications process.
Public Affairs office telephones should be answered by human beings during normal office hours. Public affairs officers (or whatever they are called) should expand their contacts with the news media on a personal basis wherever possible and continue to establilsh i
good working relationships with licensee public information personnnel. The PAQs are also frequently a regular source of agency contact with various advocacy groups and should maintain personal contacts and good relations there.
It is especially important that PAQs keep agency management informed of media and
)ublic issues and concerns, and that can't be done effectively in an office with lit-end-miss E-Mail and impersonal answering machines.
In summary. I'm saying that the Strategic Assessment Issue Paper is heavy reading and does not answer basic questions of stakeholders as to the odds on their futures. And, with the exception of limited constituents affiliated with various s)ecial interest groups, it is not likely to stir either interest or comment from t1e general public.
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