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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! n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- e nAssiNotoN. D.C. 205554001
....p# 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
s , 'i ,
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)"
- NOTE: All OlG work products are audits or special evaluations, unless listed as an OlG 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
[10@ . 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:
MAINTAINING AN UNQUALIFIED FINANCIAL STATEMENT OPINION IN LIGHT OF cFo 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.
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TOTAL P.08