ML20235S959
| ML20235S959 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/28/1982 |
| From: | Fitzgerald J NRC OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS (OI) |
| To: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20235S937 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-87-381 NUDOCS 8707210853 | |
| Download: ML20235S959 (4) | |
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( M RE DUM FOR: William J. Dircks, Executive Director for Operations TROM: James A. Fitzgerald ctir.g Director Office of Investigat' ions
SUBJECT:
TRMSFER OF INVESTIGATIVE OPERATIONS TO O!
1 I In the Chairman's mercrandum of June 4,1982 to you, he. indicated that the transfer of investigative c,perations to 01 should be made at a date mutually
, agreeable to the two of us but not later than three weeks following formal establishment of OI. By memorandam dated June 24. 1982, the Chairman fixeI June 27,1982 for the formal establish. ent of the Office. ,
Accordir. gly, ! ;.r:pese .that investigative off raticns te trar sferred to 01 on July 18, 1982. Fiease let me know if this is sat's% *ory ic pu.
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8707210853 870717 i PDR FOIA WILLIAMB7-381 PDR 31 l j
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' Washington, D.C. 20555 NO. 82-55 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 1982)
NRC FORMS NEW OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is establishing a new Office of Investigations to improve NRC's capability to perform credible, thorou' h, timely and objective investigations. Chairman Nunzio J. Palladino said the Commission is taking this step because a centralized and high-level !
focus on NRC investigations is urgently needed.
To permit close initial guidance by the Commission, the Office of Investigations (01) will report, for the time being directly to the 1 Comission. Until a permanent director is selected, the office will be headed by Acting Director James Fitzgerald. Mr. Fitzgerald currently is a- ;
an Assistant General Counsel in NRC's Office of the General Counsel.
= Although a number of details still need to be worked out'by the Commission, the general arrangements for the new office and its relation to other offices in NRC are as follows:
Supervision of investigative functions will be transferred from the Office of Inspection and Enforcement (IE) and the five NRC Reg'onal offices to the new Office o.f Investigations. Regional offica-based investigators will provide investigative services to the Regional Administrators, but will be under the supervision and direction of 01.
The Office of Investigations will be responsible for:
- 1. The conduct, supervision, and quality control of investigations of licensees, applicants, contractors or vendors undertaken at the request of the Commission, the Executive Director for Operations, Regional Administrators, other Office Directors, or on Ol's own initiative. This will include investigating all allegations of wrongdoing by individuals or organizations other than NRC employees and NRC contractors.
- 2. Developing policy, procedures, and quality control standards for the conduct' of all OI investigations and ensuring that all 01 investigators are properly trained.
- 3. Keeping abreast of inquiries and inspections of NRC licensee, I applicant, contractor or vendor operations and advising the Commission, the Executive Director for Operations, and Regional Administrators on the need for formal investigations.
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- 4. Keeping the rest of the agency informed of matters under investigation as they affect safety matters.
- 5. Advising and assisting the existing Office of Inspector and Auditor in appropriate referrals to the Department of Justice.
To facilitate near-term improvements in the quality of investigations, the Director of OI will:
- 1. Obtain input and comment from a Special Advisory Group (consisting of NRC's Inspector and Auditor, the Director of Inspector and Enforcement and a highly qualified person from outside NRC) as well as the Executive Director for Operations and Regional Administrators, and then submit proposals on policy, procedural, and quality control guidance and training programs to the Commission by June 15, 1982. As a part of developing these proposals, clear and con-sistent definitions are to be set forth on what an investigation is, how it differs from an inspection or other inquiry, and who is responsible for designating an action as an investigation. ,
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- 2. Make formal recommendations to the Commission by July 15, 1982-on any actions that should be taken to improve investigations (e.g., subpoena powers).
l 3. Institute ongoing training and refresher programs for OI investigators. ;
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- 4. Develop and recommend to the Commission, by May 17,1982, the level of staff resources necessary to assure an adequate number of qualified and trained professional investigators at both l l headquarters and regional locations.
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The Administrators of NRC's five regional offices will be !
responsible for:
- 1. Recommending to OI when a formal investigation of licensee, applicant, contractor or vendor operations is required.
- 2. Keeping investigators based at the regional offices informed of ongoing inquiries and inspections.
- 3. Cooperating with OI on investigations conducted in their regions.
l 4. Providing to investigators the assistance of technical specialists l as required in the course of investigations. )
- 5. Providing administrative support services to the investigators based in the regional offices.
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s The Direct 's of NRC's Office of Inspecti' and Enforcement will
', continue tv be responsible for the key inspection and enforcement functions he is now carrying out, with the exception of the conduct of investigations and evaluation of the investigative program.
These functions will be transferred to 0I.
The NRC Inspector and Auditor will continue to be responsible for the functions he is now carrying out. In addition, he will:
- 1. Review and comment to the Commission on the adequacy of all 01 investigations from now until September 30, 1982.
- 2. Make a semi-annual audit of OI program development, impled ntation and evaluation activities.
c The Commission expects to implement this organization as soon as possible following completion of the necessary administrative arrangements. ,
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