ML20197C550
| ML20197C550 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/13/1985 |
| From: | Mccorkle G NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Bivens L HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20197C372 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-49FR30726, RULE-PR-50, RULE-PR-73 AA36-2-023, AA36-2-23, AB17-2-22, NUDOCS 8611060243 | |
| Download: ML20197C550 (2) | |
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I Dr. Lyle nivens, Director f Division of Basic Sciences f tiational Institute of 11 ental llealth Department of Health and liuman Senices ,
Roon 11103 Parklawn Building 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville,110 20357 .
Dear Dr. Bivens:
This is to acknowledge our tiovember 12, 1985 telephone conversatici concerning your September 7,1984 coments on the Nuclear Regulatory Connission's (NRC) proposed Access Authorization Progran for nuclesr poser reactor licensees. He appreciate having had the opportunity to discuss these comments and your additional professional opinions with you.
As noted in our conversation, it was agrecif that while no screening progran g is 100 percent accurate, the measures proposed in the liRC's progrm g (i.e., background investigation, psychological assessment, and tehavioral g observation) appear to constitute the best approach presently availat.lc [
(when properly administered) to detect emotional instability in en g
. individual .
Your concerns on the use of psychological assessnent and behavir,ral j obsenation are well taken. We agree that psychological assess: cat cannot and should not be used as a predictive tool but that it is useful in assessing current emotional stability. As discussed in our ccnversation, it is believed your concerns are addressed in a number of ways ir the supporting guidance for this perfomance-oriented regulation. We are sorry that the guidance was not available to you at the time of your review and y cocrient on the proposed rule in 1984. As indicated to you, ancng other , ;
things, this guidance reconnends the use of both the itinnesota !biti-Phasic Inventory (ftiPI) and the 16 Personality Factor (16PF) tests and ,
includes a list of relevant criteria to be used as measures of te'1avioral unreliability in the nuclear work setting. Further, the guidarxe includes a training and qualification criteria reconaended for the selection of the y professionals who interpret the assessment. These individuals are required 4 to be qualified and, if applicable, state-licensed psychologists er I psychiatrists. With respect to behavioral observation, your ccncerns regarding periodic training for supervisors to identify caploy3e heOlth j and mental health problems are also accommodated in our supporting guidance. This guidance sets forth the objective of the prograo, stressing its nonpunitive nature, recomnends the development of an s enployee assistance progran and calls for supervisor " awareness" (
training on an annual basis. ;
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8611060243 e61104 PDR PR PDR Enclosure 1 50 49FR30726 l
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. r 2-Based on our corve*sation as syloasized ebave, it 's my impressior, that you are in general agreerre.1t that your corcems wire eddmssed durinj our develorneat of this progran. Please feel free *.o contact se at (301) 427-4018 f f te have misstated any of jour viests. 01cc coair., wi vary nuch apm eciate your views oa this natter.
Sincerely, uns 1,.,1A ',13 cad by G. W. *2ccr31o*
George.W. 'k.Corkl e, Chi 3f Safegraitis heac:o and fransportation 1.icers n'J Branca Division of Safegaatt!s, itiSS l
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NOV 1 J 1985 DISTRIWTION:
INSS r/t SGRT r/f SGRT s/f Dr. Lyle 81vens, Director 6Jfardamlan Divisior of Basic Sciences futicnal Institute of fiental Health RBurnett D2 partner.t Jf Health and lluaan Services il5chvhnk j R3on 11103 Parklawn Cuilding -
5500 Fist.ers Lane Rackville, !!0 20n57 Desr Dr. Bivens:
This is to acknowledge our Hovember 12, 1985 telephor.e ::onversatirn concerning ;/our Septembcr 7,1984 cm7ents or, the luclea- Regulatory Conaission's (;lRC) proposed Access luthorization Progran for nt. clear power reactor licensees. We appreciate htving had the opportunity tc d:scuss these comments and your additional professlor.al opintor.s witn you.
As noted in our conversation, it was agreed that while n) screening program is 100 percent accurate, the neasures prepostd in the liRC'r. prcgran (i.e., background investigatian, psycholcgical arsessment, and behavioral observation) appear to constitute tre best approach preseltly available (when properly administered) to detect ecottonal instability in an individual .
Your concerns on the use of psycholcgical assessnent and behavioral observation are well taken. We agrce that psychological assessnent cannot 6nd should not be used as a prectictive tool but that it is useful in assessing current emotional stability. As discussed in our conversation, it is believed your concerns are addressed in a number of ways in the supporting guidance for this performance-o?iented regulation. He are sorry that the guidance was not available to you at the time of your review and i cnnnant on the proposed rule in 1984 As indicated to you, among other '
things, this guidance reconnends the use of both the ilinnesota Nulti-Phasic Inventory (!NPI) and the 16 Personality Factor (16PF) tests and i includes a list of relevant criteria to be used as neasures cf behavioral l unreliability in the nuclear work setting. Further, the guidance includes i training and qualification criteria reconaended for the selection of the prcfes:,ionais who inter 9 ret the assessment. These individuals are requirea to be qualified and, if applicable, state-licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. With respect to behavioral observation, your conccrns regarding periodic traiaing for supervisors to identify caployee health and mental health problems are also accommodated in our supporting guidance. This guidance sets forth the objective of the program, stressing its nonpunitive nature, recommends the developnent of an enoloyee assistance progran and calls for supervisor " awareness" tr11ning on an annual basis. k' omcEp l
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. . ,-r Gased or, cur conversation as spioasized above, it is my inpression that you are in geiaral agreement that yoJr C.mCerris Wete 3ddreis9d durir.9 our development of this orogren. P12ase feel free to contact ce et (331) 4E7-4013 if we heve misstated aeiy of your views. Once again, we very nu:h sporeciate .nsur viss on this natter.
Sincerelf, n o; ;ggi f, it,noi Dy G. V' accorkW George W. l'ec:ockle, Chief Sef equart. R3actcr and Transportnion Licensing 3 ranch Divisicn cf safegue.r-15, tHSS I
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