ML20198N570
| ML20198N570 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/24/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Domenici P, Inhofe J, Mcdade J, Schaefer D HOUSE OF REP., APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE, SENATE, APPROPRIATIONS, SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198N574 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9901060159 | |
| Download: ML20198N570 (8) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
' WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 . . g[
% December 24, 1998 CHAMMAN The. Honorable Pete V. Domenici, Chairman
, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development L . Committee on Appropriations .
United States Senate .
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In accordance with the Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-26, and your letter dated November 23,1998, the first monthly report on the status of licensing activities and regulatory duties of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
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is enclosed.
On August 7,1998, I issued a memorandum identifying six broad areas in which NRC improvement efforts must be focused, and a seventh category identifying specific activities that
- should be completed within six months. Recognizing that improvement initiatives were ongoing in a number of these areas, I noted that ongoing initiatives would have to be adjusted and accelerated, and directed the staff to concentrate on those areas where considerable progress could be made.-
On August 25,1998, the NRC's Executive Director for Operations (EDO) responded to this memorandum, providing a comprehensive plan for completing an array of improvement x initiatives, and establishing both short-term and long-term milestones for the completion of specific activities. The EDO's memorandum, since referred to as the " Tasking Memorandum,"
continues to be updated monthly to reflect the completion of. milestones, adjustments to the plan, and revisions in target dates, as necessary. A copy of the latest revision to the Tasking Memorandum is also enclosed.
The staff has completed severalimportant milestones since the development of the Tasking Memorandum. Among them are the approval of the license transfer rule by the Commission, the development and transmittal of a revision to the Enforcement Policy associated with non-risk significant violations, the final design approval for AP-600, the publication of a proposed rule change to 10 CFR 50.59 for public comment, the issuance of a paper to the Commission
- clarifying the staff's interpretation and applicability of the backfit rule to decommissioning, the J
f completion of several tisk-informed licensing actions, the issuance of improved standard
_ Technical Specifications at a number of sites, and improved guidance for the issuance of j /
- Confirmatory' Action Letters. /,
Extensive NRC resources have been committed to implementing these improvements. The L
i NRC staff is conducting numerous public meetings and workshops to assure that stakeholder
- views are considered. -The following status report highlights the accomplishments and progress fh%
[ made in each of the areas identified within your November 23,1998 letter. These areas 9901060159 991224 PDR CDPMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
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include: risk-informed regulations; the nuclear plant assessment, inspection and enforcement
_p rocesses; resolution of the NRC's generic issues; NRC oversight of watch list facilities; tinieliness of licensing actions; license renewal; licensing of Private Fuel Storage; and a reduction in "nnecessary burden associated with enforcement. Detailed information on the status and progress on other agency improvement initiatives are described within the Tasking Memorandum. This first report is intentionally more lengthy than future monthly updates since l we have included background information on many of these topics.. We intend to provide more i concise updates beginning next month.
Sincerely, l
h ~' w Shirley Ann Jackson 1
cc: Senator Harry Reid l
Enclosures:
- 1. First Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum l
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[ 4, g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION UNITED STATES q, g WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 S 8 December 24, 1998
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CHAIRMAN The Honorable Joseph M. McDade, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Committee on Appropriations United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In accordance with the Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-26, the first monthly report on the status of licensing activities and regulatory duties of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)is enclosed.
On August 7,1998, l issued a memorandum identifying six broad areas in which NRC improvement efforts must be focused, and a seventh category identifying specific activities that should be completed within six months. Recognizing that improvement initiatives were ongoing in a number of these areas, I noted that ongoing initiatives would have to be adjusted and accelerated, and directed the staff to concentrate on those areas where considerable progress could be made.
On August 25,1998, the NRC's Executive Director for Operations (EDO) responded to this memorandum, providing a comprehensive plan for completing an array of improvement initiatives, and establishing both short-term and long-term milestones for the completion of specific activities. The EDO's memorandum, since referred to as the " Tasking Memorandum,"
continues to be updated monthly to reflect the completion of milestones, adjustments to the plan, and revisions in target dates, as necessary. A. copy of the latest revision to the Tasking Memorandum is also enclosed.
The staff has completed severalimportant milestones since the development of the Tasking Memorandum. Among them are the approval of the license transfer rule by the Commission, the development and transmittal of a revision to the Enforcement Policy associated with non-risk significant violations, the final design approval for AP 600, the publication of a proposed rule change to 10 CFR 50.59 for public comment, the issuance of a paper to the Commission clarifying the staff's interpretation and applicability of the backfit rule to decommissioning, the completion of several risk informed licensing actions, the issuance of improved standard Technical Specifications at a number of sites, and improved guidance for the issuance of Confirmatory Action Letters.
Extensive NRC resources have been committed to implementing these improvements. The NRC staff is conducting numerous public meetings and workshops to assure that stakeholder views are considered. The following status report highlights the accomplishments and progress made in each of the areas including: risk-informed regulations; the nuclear plant assessment,
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2 inspe'ction and enforcement processes; resolution of the NRC's generic issues; NRC oversight
.'of watch list facilities; timeliness of licensing actions; license renewal; licensing of Private Fuel .
Storage; and a reduction in unnecessary burden associated with enforcement. Detailed information on the status and progress on other agency improvement initiatives are described within the Tasking Memorandum. This first report is intentionally more lengthy than future monthly updates since we have included background information on many of these topics. We l intend to provide more concise updates beginning next month.
Sincerely, I l~4j l A . h
I
- , cc
- Representative Vic Fazio l
Enclosures:
- 1. First Monthly Report l 2. Tasking Memorandum l-l ,
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& 34 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f S WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 0001 5
I g December 24, 1998 CHAmMAN The Honorable James M. Inhofe, Chairman Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In accordance with the Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-26, the first monthly report on the status of licensing activities and regulatory duties of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ir enclosed.
On August 7,1998, I issued a memorandum identifying six broad areas in which NRC improvement efforts must be focused, and a seventh category identifying specific activities that should be completed within six months. Recognizing that improvement initiatives were ongoing in a number of these areas, I noted that ongoing initiatives would have to be adjusted and accelerated, and directed the staff to concentrate on those areas where considerable progress could be made.
On August 25,1998, the NRC's Executive Director for Operations (EDO) responded to this memorandum, providing a comprehensive plan for completing an array of improvement initiatives, and establishing both short-term and long-term milestones for the completion of specific activities. The EDO's memorandum, since referred to as the " Tasking Memorandum,"
continues to be updated monthly to reflect the completion of milestones, adjustments to the plan, and revisions in target dates, as necessary. A copy of the latest revision to the Tasking Memorandum is also enclosed.
The staff has completed severalimportant milestones since the development of the Tasking Memorandum. Among them are the approval of the license transfer rule by the Commission, the development and transmittal of a revision to the Enforcement Policy associated with non-risk significant violations, the final design approval for AP-600, the publication of a proposed rule change to 10 CFR 50.59 for public comment, the issuance of a paper to the Commission clarifying the staff's interpretation and applicability of the backfit rule to decommissioning, the completion of several risk-informed licensing actions, the issuance of improved standard Technical Specifications at a number of sites, and improved guidance for the issuance of Confirmatory Action Letters.
Extensive NRC resources have been committed to implementing these improvements. The NRC staff is conducting numerous public meetings and workshops to assure that stakeholder views are considered. The following status report hichlights the accomplishments and progress
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made in each of the areas including: risk-informed regulations; the nuclear plant assessment, inspection and enforcement processes; resolution of the NRC's generic issues; NRC cversight of watch list facilities; timeliness of licensing actions; license renewal; licensing of Private Fuel Storage; and a reduction in unnecessary burden associated with enforcement. Detailed information on the sic.tus and progress on other agency improvement initiatives are described within the Tasking Memorandum. This first report is intentionally more lengthy than future monthly updates since we have included background information on many of these topics. We intend to provide more concise updates beginning next month.
Sincerely,
- .~ k Shirley Ann Jackson ec: Senator Bob Graham I
Enclosures-
- 1. First Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum I
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k*****j/ December 24, 1998 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Dan Schaefer, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Power Committee on Commerce United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In accordance with the Fiscal Year 1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, Senate Report 105-26, the first rnonthly report on the status of licensing activities and regulatory duties of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)is enclosed.
On August 7,1998, I issued a memorandum identifying six broad areas in which NRC improvement efforts must be focused, and a seventh category identifying specific activities that should be completed within six months. Recognizing that improvement initiatives were ongoing in a number of these areas, I noted that ongoing initiatives would have to be adjusted and accelerated, and c'irected the staff to concentrate on those areas where considerable progress could be made.
On August 25,1998, the NRC's Executive Director for Operations (EDO) responded to this memorandum, providing a comprehensive plan for completing an array of improvement initiatives, and establishing both short-term and long-term milestones for the completion of specific activities. The EDO's memorandum, since referred to as the " Tasking Memorandum,"
continues to be updated monthly to reflect the completion of milestones, adjustments to the plan, and revisions in target dates, as necessary. A copy of the latest revision to the Tasking Memorandum is also enclosed.
The staff has completed several important milestones since the development of the Tasking Memorandum. Among them are the approval of the license transfer rule by the Commission, the development and transmittal of a revision to the Enforcement Policy associated with non-risk significant violations, the final design approval for AP-600, the publication of a proposed rule change to 10 CFR 50.59 for public comment, the issuance of a paper to the Commission clarifying the staff's interpretation and applicability of the backfit rule to decommissioning, the completion of several risk-informed licensing actions, the issuance of improved standard Technical Specifications at a number of sites, and improved guidance for the issuance of Confirmatory Action Letters.
Extensive NRC resources have been committed to implementing these improvements. The NRC staff is conducting numerous public meetings and workshops to assure that stakeholder views are considered. The following status report highlights the accomplishments and progress made in each of the areas including: risk-informed regulations; the nuclear plant assessment,
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inspection and enforcement processes; resolution of the NRC's generic issues; NRC oversight of watch list facilities; timeliness of licensing actions; license renewal; licensing of Private Fuel Storage; and a reduction in unnecessary burden associated with enforcement. Detailed information on the status and progress on other agency improvement initiatives are described p within the Tasking Memorandum. This first report is intentionally more lengthy than future monthly updates since we have included background information on many of these topics. We l - intend to provide more concise updates beginning next month.
Sincerely,
[w Shirley Ann Jackson cc: Representative Ralph Hall
Enclosures:
- 1. First Monthly Report
- 2. Tasking Memorandum 1
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