ML20141D682
| ML20141D682 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/16/1997 |
| From: | Mcgaffigan E NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20141D607 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-97-072-C, SECY-97-72-C, NUDOCS 9706270305 | |
| Download: ML20141D682 (2) | |
Text
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NOTATI ON VOTE RESPONSE SHEET TO:
John C.
- Hoyle, 3ecretary FROM:
COMMISSIONER MCGAFFIGAN
SUBJECT:
SECY-97-072 - STAFF ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT MEETING PROCESS Approved 4 (w/cmts) Disapproved Abstain Not Participating Request Discussion COMMENTS:
My comments are attached.
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SIGNATURE Ib 7
Release Vote
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' DATE Withhold Vote
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Entered on "AS" Yes Y
No 9706270305 970624 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
l Commissioner McGaffiaan's comments on SECY-97-072 I concur with the Chairman's comments concerning the algorithm that the staff intends to develo) based on the recommendations of the Arthur Andersen Company.
Given t1e historic difficulty in finding and validating leading indicators. I would be happy if the staff were able to identify one or more concurrent indicators.
I would urge that this activity be completed as expeditiously as possible, and that some elements be incorporated in the Senior Management Meeting (SMM) process, even if other elements are proving difficult to develop.
I agree with Commissioner Diaz on the importance of the SMM process and that it should be the best possible.
The placement of each facility's Plant Issues Matrix in the public domain, perhaps as an attachment to the plant performance review letter sent to licensees every six months, should, together with the issuance of NRC inspection reports and the Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance report, assure that licensees have ample opportunity to comment on NRC views and positions with respect to licensee performance, and take needed corrective actions to change performance.
I also agree with the comments of Commissioner Rogers, including that the j
staff need not come back to the Commission prior to implementing improvements in sampling frequencies and better mechanisms for licensee involvement at the end of the SMM pro a.
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UNITED STATES NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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j IN RESPONSE, PLEASE Tc j[
June 24, 1997 REFER TO:
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARV
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MEMORANDUM TO:
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Jostah Callan (fg Executive Director for Operations John T. Larkins Exeptt
- e D're tor, ACRS/ACNW N
o FROM:
John /.
o1, Secretary STkFFREQUIREMENTS-BRIEFINGONSTAFF
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO ARTHUR ANDERSEN STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS, 1:30 P.M.,
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1997, COMMISSIONERS' CONFERENCE ROOM, ONE WHITE FLINT NORTH, ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND (OPEN TO PUBLIC ATTENDANCE) and SECY-97-072 - STAFF ACTION PLAN TO IMPROVE THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT MEETING PROCESS The Commission was briefed by the NRC staff on the action plan to improve the Senior Management Meeting (SMM) process in response The to the recommendations in the Arthur Andersen Study.
Commission approved the staff's plan to improve the SMM process, subject to the following comments.
is the One of the major activities during the SMM process identification of " discussion plants," and the ability to derive from that list an identification of those plants that warrant heightened NRC.:tention.
It has been recognized (including the Arthur Andersen study) that the SMM process has been effective in identifying those discussion plants.
The weakness in the process, however, has been in deriving the list of plants that warrant increased scrutiny in a consistent and transparentThe larger population of discussion plants.
fashion from the staff plan to improve the SMM process should focus on rectifying weaknesses in the process.
The staff should critically evaluate the proposed Arthur Andersen approach, assumptions, completeness, and recommendations paying use of unequal time particular attention to the weighing of data,and rising standards.
random variation in count data,
- periods, The staff should consider development of performance indicators indication of plant that provide leading or concurrent performance, to the extent practicable, and that identify I
increased NRC attention in a consistent facilities that warrant 4
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manner.
As such, the staff should consider the periodicity and timing of data for performance indicators and other data for use in the SMM process.
The Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data (AEOD) should continue to work with the office l
of Research and other program offices in these efforts, particularly to improve human performance evaluations.
The staff's evaluation of the Arthur Andersen algorithm, or any other performance algorithm should include an evaluation of the algorithm's detection capability as a function of time and an assessment of its propensity to produce false positives and false negatives.
The algorithm should be peer reviewed, and should be benchmarked and trial-tested before being relied upon for making assessments or comparisons.
The staff should also describe clearly how the plant performance template and the Arthur Andersen algorithm will be used to support the SMM process.
For example, the staff should indicate whether the quantitative template attributes will be included as indicators in the Arthur Andersen algorithm and how the remaining the qualitative attributes will be used to focus discussions at SMM.
The staff should strive to determine more precisely and objectively the specific criteria and thresholds for determining NRC action levels and assignment to Category 2 or 3.
There should be a clearly defined threshold that differentiatas in a consistent manner the plants that warrant increased NRC attention.
The Resident Inspectors' and Project Managers' views should be carefully considered as changes to the SMM process are developed by the staff.
The Commission urged the staff to move forward with the plann d improvements on a timely basis.
The staff should ensure that it maintains adequate core capability and proficiency relative to the development, improvement, evaluation and interpretation of performance indicators in order to minimize reliance on contractor expertise to perform this NRC function.
The staff should provide a follow-up briefing to update the Commission on progress on the above items.
(EDO)
(SECY Susperse:
10/17/97)
The Commission requested that the ACRS review the improvements being made to the SMM process.
(ACRS)
(SECY Suspense:
10/17/97)
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l cc:
Chairman Jackson l
Commissioner Rogers Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan OGC CFO CIO OCA OIG Office Directors, Regions, ACRS, ACNW, ASLBP (via E-Mail)
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