ML20237F252
| ML20237F252 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/02/1987 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Bush G, Jason Wright HOUSE OF REP., SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, SENATE, PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8712290482 | |
| Download: ML20237F252 (8) | |
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UNITED STATES f
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g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
- E W ASHINGTON,0. C. 20566 i
December 2, 1987 CHAIRMAN The Honorable George H. W. Bush President of the United States Senate i
Washington, D.C.
20510
Dear Mr. President:
Enclosed is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission legislative proposal in the form of a draft bill to amend Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Its purpose is to modify the requirement for an annual report from the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to the Congress on the results of the Committee's study of the NRC Reactor Safety Research program and budget.
The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) is mindful of the Congressional interest in the NRC Research Program and need to keep Congress fully and currently informed.
The Committee believes it can better advise the Congress on the need for and effectiveness of research, on the usefulness of the results obtained and on the management of the research programs by examining : elected areas of research and providing Congress specific, in-depth reports rather than one all inclusive annual review.
l The Commission supports the ACRS proposal to revise the requirements for an annual report to Congress.
The Commission believes that this legislative proposal will allow for a more effective and efficient use of the resources of the Committee and the NRC.
The Committee's proposal will provide for reports on the NRC's research program when there are significant aspects which impact on the NRC's regulatory mission or as might be requested by the Congress.
A draft bill (Enclosure 1) is provided to accomplish this modification of the responsibility of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.
An analysis of the draft bill (Enclosure 2), a comparative text (Enclosure 3), and a memorandum explaining in greater detail the need for the legislation (Enclosure 4) are also enclosed.
Sincerely, h (N,
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PDR CORRESPONDENCE PDR Lando W. Z h,
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Enclosures:
1.
Draft Bill 2.
Analysis of Proposal l
l 3.
Comparative Text 4.
Memorandum
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g,
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%,..... }Y December 2, 1987 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Jim Wright Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Mr. Speaker:
Enclosed is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission-legislative proposal in the form of a draft bill to amend Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
Its purpose is_to modify the requirement for an annual report from the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to the Congress on the results of the Committee's study of the NRC Reactor Safety Research program and budget.
The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) is mindful-of the Congressional interest in the NRC Research Program and need to keep Congress fully and currently informed.
The Committee believes it can better advise the Congress on the need for and effectiveness of research, on the usefulness of the results obtained and on the management of the research programs by examining selected areas of research and providing Congress specific, in-depth reports rather than one all inclusive annual review.
The Commission supports the ACRS proposal'to revise the requirements for an annual' report to Congress.
The Commission believes that this legislative proposal will allow for a more effective and efficient use of the resources of the Committee and the NRC.
The Committee's proposal will provide for reports on the NRC's research program when there are significant aspects which impact on the NRC's regulatory mission or as might be requested by the Congress.
A draft bill (Enclosure 1) is provided to accomplish this modification of the responsibility of the Advisory Committee on i
Reactor Safeguards.
An analysis of the draft bill (Enclosure 2), a comparative text (Enclosure 3), and a memorandum explaining in greater detail the need for the legislation (Enclosure 4) are also enclosed.
Sincerely, I
h $4410 hV.
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, Jr. f '
Lando W. Ze
Enclosures:
1.
Draft Bill 2.
Analysis of Proposal 3.
Comparative Text 4.
Memorandum
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I ENCLOSURE 1 DRAFT BILL 1
Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, which is entitled, " Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards," is amended by replacing the final two sentences J
of that section with the following sentence:
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In addition to its other duties under this section, the Committee, making use of all available and relevant sources, shall undertake a study of reactor safety research and from time to time, as it deems warranted or as specifically f
requested by the Congress, prepare and submit to the Congress a report containing the significant results of any such study.
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ENCLOSURE 2 ANALYSIS 0F_ PROPOSAL l
The amendment to Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act requires that the Advisory Committee on Reactor: Safeguards, i
in addition to its other duties under this section~and making use of all available and relevant sources, shall undertake a study of reactor safety research and-from t'ime to time, as it deems warranted or,as specifically: requested by the Congress, prepare and submit to the Congress a report i
containing the'significant results of its study of.the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Safety Research Program.
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1 ENCLOSURE 3 COMPARATIVE TEXT OF SECTION 29 0F THE ATURTC ENERiTACT OF 19W AT KRERDEU l
(Underlined text. indicates additions; overstricken text indicates deletions.)
"Sec. 29.
Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards.--
There is hereby' established an Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards consisting of a' maximum of fifteen members j
appointed by the Commission for terms of four years each.
j The Committee shall review safety studies and facility J
license applications referred'to it and shall make reports l
thereon, shall advise the Commission with regard to the.
hazards of proposed or existing reactor facilities and the
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adequacy of proposed reactor safety standards, and shall
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perform such other duties as the Commission may request.
J One member shall be designated by the Committee as its Chairman.
The members of the Committee shall receive a per diem' compensation for each day spent in meetings or conferences, or other work of the' Committee, and all members.
shall receive-their necessary traveling or other expenses while engaged in the work of the Committee.
The provisions of section 163 shall be applicable to the Committee.
In addition to its other duties under this section, the Committee, making use of all available and relevant sources, i
shall undertake a study of reactor safety resiirch and from i
time to time, as it deems warranted or as specifically reguested Ey_the fongress, prepare and suEmit aRRually to tee Congress a report containing the significant results of l
any such study.
The-firs'6-sweh-reperi-sWiTT!ie! submitted-te IEe-GeRgFeSS-Ret-lateP-thaR-DeeembeF-345-19777" l
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ENCLOSURE 4 LEGISLATIVE MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT-GT~FK6F65E5~ETEE The Nuclear Regulatory Commission legislative proposal to amend Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended has as its purpose a modification of.the requirement for an annual report from the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to the Congress on the results of the Committee's study of Reactor Safety Research.
In 1957, by amending the Atomic Energy Act to includeLa new Section 29, the Congress established the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards for the purpose of making available to the government regulators the advice of a group of experts from the private sector on the subject of reactor hazards-and safety standards. Also by amendment to the Atomic Energy Act, in 1977 Congress expanded Section 29 of the Atomic Energy Act to require the Committee to undertake a study of reactor safety research and prepare and submit annually to the Congress a report containing the results-of its study.
The first two annual reports, provided in December of 1977.
and 1978, focussed primarily and substantively on the Nuclear Regulatory research program. The reports reviewed and evaluated the NRC research program and recommended additional research in certain areas for confirmatory l
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2 reasons or because of a potential for leading to the development of improved safety concepts.
The reviews also included a study of research by the Department of Energy and the nuclear industry for the purpose of avoiding duplicative efforts.
Subsequently, by request of Congress the report was delayed in order to include a review by the Committee of the Administration's budget.
Over the succeeding years the 1
reports have included increased emphasis on the budget in an effort to respond to the Committee's understanding of Congressional interest in receiving budget related materials.
1 The experts who comprise the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards hold responsible and demanding positions in universities, research institutes and the like.
They thus have limited time available to devote to the work of the Committee.
Moreover, given budgetary constraints, the resources available to them from the Commission are also limited.
In that light, the Committee members have expressed concern that the demands and emphasis of the annual reporting requirement is detracting increasingly from the important function to which they are committed and which they are best suited to perform.
The Committee is mindful of the Congressional interest and need to be fully and currently informed.
The Committee l
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believes it can better respond to Congress with advice on the need for and effectiveness of research, on the usefulness of the results obtained and.on the management of the research programs by examining selected areas of research in considerable depth rather than in an all l
inclusive annual review.
The Committee proposes providing, more or less ' frequently than annually, more focussed-reports, especially where the Committee perceives that a single issue warrants Congressional attention.
The Committee would, of. course,-report on any specific subjects that the Congress directed.
The Commission supports the Committee's proposal because the Commission agrees that the Congress will be better served thereby.
Moreover, unless the members are able to devote their expertise to the important purpose.which they are expected to serve, the Commission may have difficulty maintaining the calibre of membership which~the Commission has been so fortunate as-to have available to advise it on nuclear matters in pursuit of its mission to protect the
'l public health and safety.and safeguard the common security.
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