ML20246F946
| ML20246F946 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/16/1989 |
| From: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Kristol W PRESIDENT OF U.S. & EXECUTIVE OFFICES |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8908310179 | |
| Download: ML20246F946 (6) | |
Text
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cur UNITED STATES
[U NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION r.
(
i wAsHiNcTom. o. c. 20sss August 16, 1989 CHAIRMAN -
Mr. William Kristol Chief of Staff Office of the Vice President Washington, D.C.
20500
Dear Mr. Kristol:
I am responding to your memorandum of July 11, 1989, inviting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to comment on critical problems affecting the competitiveness of American industry.
The Commission supports the objectives of the interagency Council on Competitiveness and believes that the Council's efforts will have a positive impact on the nation's nuclear industry.
However, when the Congress created the NRC under the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, it specifically separated the regulation of the civilian uses of nuclear materials and facilities from activities associated with research, develop-ment, and promotion of energy sources, which were assigned to what is today the Department of Energy.
As a result, it would be inappropriate for the NRC to offer suggestions on the four areas that you identified.
We believe that the specific issues of concern to the Council can best be addressed by other depart-ments and agencies, including the Department of Energy.
Nevertheless, we would like to offer a general comment for the Council's consideration.
In our view, the existence of rigorous regulatory requirements for the protection of public health and' safety does not necessarily reduce the competitiveness of American firms in international markets.
Foreign purchasers of nuclear reactors, reactor components, and other equipment using radioactive materials are aware that such equipment designed and manufactured in the United States has had to meet the most exacting safety standards.
The association of high quality with American-made products has in the past served American industry i
well, and we believe that effective regulatory programs can play an important role in restoring the competitiveness of our I
products in international markets.
I regret that we cannot be more helpful to the Council in assessing these issues of critical importance to our country's future.
Please accept the Commission's best wishes for the success of the Council's endeavors.
i Sincerely, ww%.h Ofof l.
Kenneth M. Carr I i 8908310179 e90816 I
FDR coMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE FDC l
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orric E or THE VICE P R ESIDENT WASHINGTON JUL I i 1999 4
MEMORAN"!O.1 FOR ATTACHED D1STRIBUTION L1ST FROM:
WILLIAM KRISTOL CHIEF OF STAFF 70 THE VICE PRESIDENT p
SUBJECT:
Recommendations to the Council on Competitiveness As you may know, President Bush has asked Vice President Quayle to chair the interagency Council on Competitiveness.
Additional members of the Council are the Secretary of the Treasury (as Chairman of the Economic Policy Council),
Attorney General the the Secretary of Commerce,(as Chairman of the Domestic Policy Council),
the Director of the Of fice of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, and the Chief of Staf f to the President.
At the initial meeting the regulatory review proces,s pursuantthe Council reaffarmed its role in to Executive Orders 12291 and 12498.
The Council will continue to perform the function, previously performed by the Task Force on Regulatory Relief, of reviewing Federal regulations having a significant national competitiveness.
impec+ on To help in the Council's broader policy coordination function, several members of the Council suggested that ment agencies should be solicited for suggestions of issues that govern-may benefit from the Council's attention.
While not all of the issues that may be suggested can be addressed immediately, compiling a list of such issues and of information relative to their significance for U.S.
Council competitiveness will enable the i
Administration action.to begin to develop short and long-term priorities for t
For purposes of organization, we have grouped the issues that We welcome your comments on these areasarise under the rubric of in general, bpt particu-l larly would appreciate your specific suggestions of issues for the Council to consider in each or any of these areas:
1.
Preserving Free Enterprise.
Free enterprise has made the United 5tates the most prosperous nation in the world.
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- Y Accordingly, the Council on Competitiveness may consider policies on mergers and acquisitions, antitrust limits on mergers and joint ventures, and bankruptcy law.
'In addition, the Council may consider product liability law, heal th and safety, environment al, transportation, and.
communi cat i ons regulation, foreign trade law, intellectual 1
property rights, risk assessment, market-and incentive-I.
and other statutory and based approaches to regulation, regulatory policies affecting enterprise and entrepreneurship.
- l 2.
Access to Capital.
The availability of capital being critical to economic growth, the Council may consider policies that would free the flow of investment capital to American business, such as tax policies, including the capital gains tax rate.
Also, banking and financial industry reform, securities and commodity trading regula-p tions, saving incentives, foreign investment, accounting standards and practices may be considered.
3.
Bringing Science to Market.
To maintain U.S. primacy in emerging industries, the nation must do a better job of developing commercial applications for scientific innovations.
The Council may examine policies toward bio-technology, public private research and production con-sortia, intellectual property rights approval or protection, licensing of new products, research and experimentation tax credits, government technology transfer and procurement, and federal funding of research and development.
4.
Development of Human Resources.
To improve the nation's 66Spetitiveness, the U.S. must continue to have the most productive work force in the world.
The Council may examine policies affecting America's education system, particularly instruction in such disciplines as math, science, and computers.
In addition, the Council may review I
i labor., health, welfare, immigration, and other policies affecting the ability of the American work force to maintain high quality and productivity and to adapt to new industrial and commercial advances.
I it would be helpful to receive y7ur assessment of critical problems in competitiveness arranged -- if you think it helpful
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-- into these four areas using the following format:
4 Format:
Set out the problems the United States faces in improving our international competitiveness.
to the extent possible:
For each problem, 1.
Precisely identify the problem.
i 2.
Explain how the problem negatively affects U.S.
competitiveness.
l 3.
provide examples of the problem.
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4..
L Describe the scope of the problem.
Set out budgetary and economic' costs (direct and indirect), i f quanti fi-L able.
If possible, compare the situation in the U.S..
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with other countries.
5.
Identify the most attractive possible solutions.
For each solution, ciate:
Whether-the problem can be addressed'through-a.
' private sector action..
b.
Whether'it requires government. action.
If so.
stt.Te what type (i.e.,
administrative, legislative.-regulatory, or government leadership and advocacy).
The budgetary impact (direct and indirect).
c.
d.
The impact on the economy (direct and indirect).
e.
Other effects, including indirect or secondary effects (positive or negative).'
.g f.
The background on similar previous proposals to address the problem, 6.
Assess prospects for success for such proposals.
J would appreciate a response to this memorandum by.
August 1,.1989.
Staff. questions should be referred to Diane Weinstein, Counsel to the Council (456-2816).
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
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s DISTRIBUTION LIST Council Members:
The Honorable Nicholas F. Brady The Secretary of the Treasury The Honorable Richard Thornburgh Chairman Pro Tempore of the Attorney General Economic Policy Council Chairman Pro Tempore of the Domestic Policy Council The Honorable Robert A. Mosbacher The Honorable John Sununu Secretary of Commerce Chief of Staff to the President The Honorable Richard Darman Director The Honorable istichael J. BosKin Chairman Of fice of Management and Budget Council of Economic Advisors Departments, Agencies. Boards, and Commissions:
The Honorable James A. Baker, III Secretary of State The Honorable Richard Cheney Secretary of Defense The Honorable Manuel Lujan, Jr.
Secretary of the Interior The Honorable Clayton K. Yeutter Secretary of Agriculture The Honorable Elizabeth H. Dole Secretary of Labor The Honorable Lauro Cavazos Secretary of Education The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan Secretary of Health The Honorable Jack F. Kemp and Human Services Secretary of Housing and Urban Development The Honorable Samuel K. Skinner Secretary of Transportation The Honorable James D. Watkins Secretary of Energy The Honorable Edward J. Derwinski Secretary of Veterans Affairs The Honorable Carla Hills United States Trade Representative The Honorable William Webster Director The Honorable Brent Scowcroft Assistant to the President for Central Intelligence Agency National Security Affairs The Honorable William Bennett Director, Of fice of Dr. Allan Bromley National Drug Control Policy Science Advisor to the President The Honorable David Q. Bates, Jr.
The Honorable Roger Porter Assistant to the President Assistant to the President for and Secretary to the Cabinet Economic and Den:eitic Policy The Honorable Erich Bloch Director Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly Administrator National Science Foundation National Aeronautics and Space Administration l
s The Honorable Susan S. Engeleiter Mr. James M. Stephens Administrator Chairman Small Business Administration National Labor Relations Board The Honorable William K. Reilly Administrator The Honorable Frank Young Administrator Environmental Protection Agency Food and Drug Administration The Honorable Alan Greenspan Chairman The Honorable L. William Seidman Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation The Honorable Wendy L. Gram The Honorable David S. Ruder Chairman, Comodi ty Chairaan Futures Trading Comission Securities and Exchange Comission The Honorable Dennis R. Patrick r
Chairman The Honorable Daniel Oliver Cliai rman Federal Communications Comission Federal Trade Comission The Honorable Anne E. Brunsdale The Honorable Heather Gradison Chairman, United States Chairman International Trade Comraission Interstate Comerce Comission The Honorable Anne Graham Acting Chairman, Consumer The Honorable Martha O. Hesse Product Safety Commission Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Comission The Honorable Kenneth Carr Chairman The Honorable William F. Ryan Nuclear Regulatory Comission Acting President and Chairman Export-Import Bank j
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