ML20195A048
| ML20195A048 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/31/2020 |
| From: | Kristine Svinicki NRC/Chairman |
| To: | Lowey N, Shelby R US HR (House of Representatives), US HR, Comm on Appropriations, US SEN (Senate), US SEN, Comm on Appropriations |
| J. Quichocho, 415-0209 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20195A044 | List: |
| References | |
| CORR-20-0079 | |
| Download: ML20195A048 (3) | |
Text
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4w CHAIRMAN August 31,2020 TheHonorable Richard Shelby
- Chairman, Committee onAppropriations United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
DearMr.Chairman:
Onbehalf oftheU.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC),
Iamsubmitting thereport forthethird quarter ofFiscal Year(FY) 2020 related totheNRC'sprogress oncertain licensing actions andright-sizing commitments consistent with thedirectionfirst included intheJoint Explanatory Statement accompanying theConsolidated Appropriations Act,2016,and continued inSenate Report 116-102 accompanying the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act,2020.
TheJoint Explanatory Statement directed the Commission toreport onthefollowing:
1)"the on-board strength offull-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including anyidentified areas ofcritical skill shortages andtargeted hiring strategies against these shortage areas";
2)"the actions taken toright-size theNRCinaccordance withthe recommendations oftheProject Aim
- report, toinclude re-baselining assumptions andprojection ofFTEsand required budget authority",
3)"the progress toeliminate thebacklog ofpending licensingactions intheOffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation by2017",
and4)"the progress tocomplete the licensing reviewsof pending reactor license renewal applications (power andresearch reactors),combined license applications, early site permit applications, design certification applications, anduranium recovery applications (initial andrenewal) against currently projected schedules."
Asnoted intheprevious quarterly
- report, theFY2020staffing level intheagency's enacted appropriation is2,979FTE.TheNRCcurrently projects utilizing 2,795FTE,which wouldbeapproximately 126FTEbelowtheFY2019utilization.
TheFTEresources cited include theOffice oftheInspector General resources.
Since FY2014,theNRC'sworkforce hasdeclined considerably, from3,741to2,979 FTE.Inrecent
- years, thehiring ofadditional agencystaff hasbeenlimited tothose skills that arecritical totheagency operations ornotavailable within theexisting agency workforce.
The NRChasimplemented aStrategic Workforce Planning process toimprove ourefforts in developing andmanaging theNRCworkforce andtobalance near-term workwith long-term staffing projections.
Theprocess projects theamountandtypeofworkanticipated overthenext 5years andidentifies theskills neededintheworkforce toperform that work.Through this
- process, bothshort-andlong-term workforce planning strategies aredeveloped toinform the agency's efforts torecruit,
- retain, anddevelop askilled anddiverse workforce withthe competencies andagility toaddress bothcurrent andemerging needsandworkload fluctuations.
Theagency recently hired 23entry-level applicants into thenewNuclear Regulatory Apprenticeship Network (NRAN)
Program.
Theoverall goalofNRANistorecruit,
- 2 hire anddevelopcollege graduates overatwo-year period tosupply theagency's technical offices withnewpersonnel tofill critical skip gapsand/or projected future office vacancies.
Given the projected attrition overthenext5years, this process will helpustoavoid skills gaps andtoensure that theNRCisappropriately staffed tocarry outoursafety mission into the future.
Duringthis reporting
- period, theNRCcontinued totakeprecautionary measures in response tothe'declared publichealth emergency (PHE) intheUnited States inresponse tothe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) toensure thehealth andsafety ofourworkforce.
These measures areconsistent with guidance provided bytheFederal Government, including the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention, aswell asState andlocal authorities.
Activities included temporarily modifying resident inspectors'presence atreactors andfuel cycle facilities inawaythat maintains the NRC's oversight andinspection role while minimizing their risk of exposure tothevirus.
Additionally, the NRCstaff hasnotified licensees oftheprocesses available torequest temporary accommodations given theCOVID-19 PHE.Thisnotification wasaccomplished inatransparent way through public communications,.such as teleconferences andletters.
A completelist oftheseprocessesandtemporary modifications approved bytheNRCinresponse tothe COVID-19 PHEisavailable ontheNRCpublic website atMtps3/wwyerqqov/aboutfrc/coyA19/.
The NRC alsodeferred billing ofannual feesand feesforservices forthe90-day period ofApril through June2020.Billing ofthese deferred fees resumed inJuly2020.Future reports will include additional detailsonNRCactivities resulting fromoraffected bytheCOVID-19 PHE.
Th'estatus oflicensing activities isprovided inEnclosure 1.TheNRC'scontinued activities resulting fromProject Aimaredescribed inEnclosure 2.
Ifyouhaveanyquestions orneedadditional information, please feelfree tocontact me orhaveyourstaff contact Eugene Dacus,Director oftheOffice ofCongressional
- Affairs, at (301) 415-1776.
Sincerely, Kristine L.Svinicki
Enclosures:
Asstated cc:Senator Patrick Leahy
identical letter sentto:
The Honorable Richard Shelby
- Chairman, Committee onAppropriations United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 cc:Senator Patrick Leahy TheHonorable Nita Lowey
- Chairman, Committee on Appropriations United States HouseofRepresentatives Washington, DC 20515 cc:Representative KayGranger