ML20205T507
| ML20205T507 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/01/1998 |
| From: | Bell H NRC OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (OIG) |
| To: | Burton D HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20205T495 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9904270269 | |
| Download: ML20205T507 (7) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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December 1,1998 OFFICE OF 1hE INSPECTOR GENERAL The Honorable Dan Burton, Chairman House Committee on Govemment Reform and Oversight United States House of Representatives Washington D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairrnen:
In January of this year, I responded to a Congressional request and provided to you a list of what my office considered to be the 10 most serious management challenges facing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). In August, you requested that I update that list and provide a current assessment of the NRC's most serious management challenges. Based on the work of my office, my general knowledge of agency operations, and other relevant information sources, I am providing a summary description of each item. Enclosure i provides a listing of the 10 most serious management challenges provided to you in January, as well as reports by my office that addressed these items. Enclosure ll contains a listing of what my office considers to be NRC's most serious current management challenges.
If you need additional information, you may call David Lee, Deputy Inspector General, at (301)415-5930.
Sincarely,
/WV&
Hubert T. Bell Inspector General
Enclosures:
As stated 9904270269 990416 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
Enclosuro l l
Audit and Investigative Work Addressing NRC's 10 Most Serious Management Challenges" (Based on January 1998 Listing)
CHALLENGE 1:
DEFINING AND IMPLEMENTING A RISK INFORMED, PERFORMANCE SASED APPROACH TO REGULATORY OVER$1GHT VERSUS TRADITIONAL COMPLIANCE BASED APPROACH "Better Definition and Planning Needed to Guide NRC's Transition to a Risk-Informed, Performance-Based Regulatory System' "The NRC Needs a Comprehensive Plan to Resolve Regulatory issues
- CHALLENGE 2:
REVIEW AND LICENSING OF ANTICIPATED DOE LICENSE APPLICATION TO OPERATE A HIGH LEVEL WASTE FACILITY
' Review of the NRC',s Draft Renewal Justification to Continue the Federally Funded Research and Development Center" NOTE: In 1995 OlG issued a report on the Licensing Support System and continues to track a significant recommendation not yet completed. A follow-up audit is planned once all actions to close the 1995 recommendation are completed CHALLENGE 3:
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
'NRC Has an Opportunity to Coordinate Projects Related to Trahng Employee Labor Hours'
' Survey of NRC Actions to Securs its Sensitive Information Systems'
'Special Evaluation: The NRC's Progress on the Year 2000 lasue'
' Review of M-Cubed's Work on the Reactor Program System' f
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CHALLENCE 3 (ctntinu:d):
'NRC's Efforts to Document Compliance with the New Time and Attendance System is Lacking"
" Opportunities for Savings Available in Information Management Activities'
'NRC's Year 2000 Efforts Reestding its btemal Systems'
'NRC's Efforts with Licensees on the Year 2000 Issue"
" Improvements Needed in Agency Oversight of Information Resources Management Activities' CHALLENGE 4:
IMPACT OF INDUSTRY DE4EGULATION AND RELATED TREND FOR LICEN TO DECOMMISSION RATHER THAN RENEW LICENSES "NRC's License Renewal Program" CHALLENGE 5:
RESIDENT INSPECTOR PROGRAM
' Factors Leading to inconsistency in the Operating Reactor Inspection Program'
' Review of NRC's Implementation of Inspection Manual Chapter 1245 Training Requirements' CHALLENGE 5:
NRC PILOT TEST RELATIVE TO POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT OF DOE FAC!LITIES
' Valuable Lessons Can be Learned from the Regulatory Transition of the Gaseous Diffusion Plants' CHALLENGE 7:
ABILITY TO ANTICIPATE AND RESPOND TO IASUES IN THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS AREA, PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAL AREA
" Survey of NRC/ EPA lasues Regarding Radiation Standards"
" Opportunities to improve NRC's Dry Cask Storage Program' 2-8 59 af,
CHALLEN3E 8:
+
ABILITY TO ASSESS PERFORMANCE, BCTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, OF AGENCY PROGRAMS
" Management Controls Over NRC Property at DOE Laboratories Should Be Strengthened'
' Consideration for improving NRC Oversight of the Commercial Facilities Management Ervices Contra #"
' Review of NRC's implementation of OMB Circular A-131, Value Engineering"
" Evaluation of Best Practices for Developing and implementing an integrated Financial Management System"
- Review of NRC's Representation Funds'
" Review of Performance Measures *
'PC Refresh'
' Project Managers Workloed'
' Review of NRC's Management Directive 6.1" (/tdit Follow-up)
"Special Evaluation of NRC's Development of Core Research Capabilities'
' Follow-up Review of NRC's Process for issuing and Track!ng Notices of Enforcement Discretion" CHALLENGE 9:
ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT OF AGENCY PROCUREMENT UNDER NEW GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING RULES
' Review of NRC's Contracting Activities *
' Procurement Streamlining Measures implemented: Improvements Can Be Made' CHALLENGE 10:
ABILir( TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH THE PUBLic AND INDUSTRY
' Additional Measures Needed to Enhance the NRC's riulemaking Process" -.
OlG Inv: dig:tiva Ev:nt Inquirics:
" Allegation of Sunshine Act and Ex-parte Communication Violation by NRC Commissioners'
'Public's Concerns Wrth NRC Report of Indepenoent Safety Assessment (ISA) at Main Yankee'
'Public's Concems Wdh Millstone Indeper dent Corrective Action Venfication Program (ICAVP)"
All OlG work products are audits or special evaluations, unless listed as an OlG
- NOTE:
Investigative Event inquiry, I
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Enclosure II The 10 Most Serious Management Challenges
]
Facing the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission" (As of December 1,1998)
CHALLENGE 1:
g gg DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A RISK-INFORMED, PERFORMANCE-BASED APPROACH TO REGULATORY OVERSIGHT CHALLENGE 2:
DEVELOPING INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND BEING ABLE TO QO ANTICIPATE AND MEASURE THE BENEFITS TO BE GAINED CHALLENGE 3:
RESPONDING TO THE IMPACT OF INDUSTRY DE-REGULATION AND LICENSE N-TRANSFERS CHALLENGE 4:
ADMINISTERING AND OVERSEEING AGENCY PROCUREMENT UNDER
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. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING RULES. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING RULES ALLOW THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FRAUD TO OCCUR CHALLENGE 5:
OP/t/Dg)G EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY CHALLENGE 6:
cFo MAINTAINING AN UNQUALIFIED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPINION IN LIGHT OF NEWaun EmTING CFO REQUIREMENTS CHALLENGE 7:
ENSURING THAT NRC'S PROCESSES, SUCH AS SPENT FUEL CASK Nm SS CERTIFICATION AND LICENSE RENEWAL, ARE RESPONSIVE TO INDUSTRY NEEDS CHALLdNGE5:
ENSURING THAT NRC'S ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM HAS AN APPROPRIATE d.
SAFETY FOCUS AND REFLECTS IMPROVED LICENSEE PERFORMANCE
9 CHALLENGE 9:
id6 REFOCUSING NRC'S RESEARCH PROGRAM TO REFLECT A MATURE INDUST CHALLENGE 10:
RESPONDING TO EXTERNAL INFLUENCES FOR CHANGING NRC'S OPERATIO F R EXAMPLE, THE ABILITY TO MEET NRC'S MISSION AND REQUIREMENTS OF CFo THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT, AS THE RESULT OF A (P&m Proc,,g PROPOSED AGENCY REORGANIZATION, POSES A SIGNIFICANT C TO NRC
- NOTE: The 10 challenges are net ranked in any order of irnportance.
1 l TOTAL P.08