ML20148Q777
| ML20148Q777 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/26/1997 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Domaratzki Z INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20148Q782 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9707070212 | |
| Download: ML20148Q777 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES
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4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001
\\*****[x June 26, 1997 CHAIRMAN Mr. Zygmund Domaratzki Deputy Director General Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety international Atomic Energy Agency Wagramerstrasse 5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Dear Mr. Domaratzki:
Thank you for your letter of June 17,1997, indicating your interest in harmonizing the activities of the Intemational Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA) and International Atomic Energy Agency. I appreciate your support for this initiative, and share your view that regular contact and cooperation among nuclear regulators in a variety of fora significantly enhances nuclear safety worldwide.
As you know, INRA was formally constituted in Paris May 29-30,1997. The members finalized a terms of reference document which describes how the INRA will be organized, its initial membership, and how it plans to develop working relationships with other national and intemational nuclear safety and regulatory bodies (see enclosure). We also discussed two broad topics at length, national trends in eloctric generation and their effect on nuclear safety; and an assessment of effectiveness of nuclear regulatory and safety assistance. The Association expects to meet in the United States in January 19D8, and thereafter meet on a twice yearly basis.
During our deliberations, we agreed that a first priority was to establish and consolidate the Association, develop the program of the body, and to determine how it might usefully contribute to enhancing nuclear safety. It was felt that this task should proceed during the initial two-year period before taking a decision on how to involve other national regulatory agencies or other interested orgnizations. The decision to defer the general issue of membership acs not, however, pi~eclude the Association from arranging ad hoc activities with other regulatory bodies or nuclear-related organizations, where such activities are deemed to provide a useful way to advance the Association's objectives. Given your support for, and interest in, the Association, I hope we will be able to include you in our activities at an early date.
To promote the work of INRA, I would like to make a presentation on the organization to interested countries attending the IAEA General Conference in September 1997. I would request your support for this meeting, and have asked Mr. Charles Z. Serpan, Nuclear Safety attache at the U.S. Mission in Vienna, to discuss logistical and other arrangements with you.
Sincerely, Y
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Enclosure:
As stated i**
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i May 29,1997 1
j TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATORS ASSOCIATION (INRA) 4.
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PREAMBLE 6,JMjG83227j$Mjis]?jEEB2iME$$fEEZiKM622@M&gs The Intemational Nuclear Regulators A==~W (" Association") is established to influence and enhance nuclear safety, from the regulatory perspective, among its members as well as worldwide.
3' The Association shall comprise the most senior officials of well-established independent national ntelear regulatory organizations who wish to exchange perspectives on important issues of nuclear safety.
OBJECTWE8
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To establish a forum for the most senior nuclear regulatory offcials to exchange views on broad regulatory policy issues (technical, legal, economic, administrative).
To build a global nuclear safety culture.
To encourage the most efficient use of resources in areas of common interest.
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To w Whance the stature of nuclear regulatory organizations worldwide.
1 To. ;ek consensus on how nuclear regulatory issues can be approached and implemented; to i
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' facilitate intemational cooperation in regulation.
To work to advance nuclear safety through cooperation among its members, cooperation with relevant existing intergovemmental organizations (e.g., IAEA, OECD/NEA), with other national i
nuclear regulatory organizations, and other groups and organizations, as appropriate.
i To identify emerging nuclear regulatory challenges.
J ADMINISTRATWE ARRANGEMENT 86, dl Z ha dCejd1 TA ARTICLE 1: NAME The organization established pursuant to these. Terms of Re,f,efence shall be called the Intemational Nuclear Regulators Association (INRA).
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1-ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE The Association shallinfluence and enhance nuclear safety, from the regulatory perspective, among its members as well as woridwide.
ARTICLE 3: ACT0/ITIES The tasks assigned to the Association shall be carried out, both individually and collectively, in conformity with the provisions set forth in these Terms of Reference, to support the common interest of the members.
In particular, the Association shall act by consensus to:
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Promote the exchange of information and experience among members, q
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Review and assess on a continuing basis the effectiveness of the Association's activities.
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Make recommendations to other responsible bodies, both national and intomational, conceming issues of nuclear regulatory significance; support intemational cooperative activities and other nuclear safety inmatives; participate in relevant activities of other bodies concemed with nuclear sa'ety, as appropriate; and review the nuclear safety programs of existing intomational bodies.
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Consider, at an early date, the value of convening meetings comprising the most senior officials.
of a broad range of nabonal nuclear regulatory organizations, relevant existing intergovemmental organizations, and other groups and organizations, as a useful means for advancing the i
Association's stated objectives.
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ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP :
Members of the Intemational Nuclear Regulators Assoostion shall be the most senior oNicials of national nuclear regulatory bodies.
The initial membership takes into account, for each respective country, the size and scope of the nuclear j
i-program; the existence of a well-established, independent nuclear regulatory authority; and a firm i
commitment to the provisions of the Convention on Nuclear Safety.
4 The Association intends to consider, during an initial period of two years, the most effective way to achieve its objectives and, based on that experience, how to involve.other national nuclear regulatory i
organizations.
i ARTICLE 5: LANGUAGE The working language shall be English.
ARTICLE 6: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE t
The Association shall establish the following organizational elements:
A Chairman shall be chosen by consensus and shall coordinate the work of the Association
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during his/her period of incumbency.
l The first Chairman shall serve for two years. Thereafter, the designated Chairman shall serve for a period of one year.
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The Chairmaifs' hall provide the Secretariat function's auring'his/her period 'ofnmbency.
i The members shall cover their own expenses for participation in meetings.
ARTICLE 7: ASSOCIATION MEETINGS Association meetings shall be held at least annually.
Association meetings shall be organized on the most efficient possible basis.
The agreed consensus of the group will be made publicly available. The confidentiality of the working papers and discussions of the Association shall be protected, as appropriate, to the extent authorized by the respective national laws and policies of its members.
1 Signed in Paris, on the 29th of May,1997.
i Juan. Kindelan Agnes J. Bishop President Presi ent Atomic En gy Control Board of Canada Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear, Spain
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Andr6-Cla e La o rs H g
Director Director General Nuclear Installations Safety birectorate, Swedish Nuclear Power inspectorate (SKI)
France Gerald Hennenhofer Sam Harbison Director Generalfor Nuclear Safety HM Chief Inspector of Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Nuclear Installations (Nil),
Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU),
United Kingdom Germany ed -.-
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Yasumasa Togo Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman Chairman Nuclear Safety Commission, Japan United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC),
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4:?/ 5'U Tomihiro Taniguchi Deputy Director General Agency of Natural Resources and Energy, MITI, Japan