ML22180A116
| ML22180A116 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/30/2022 |
| From: | Glass A NRC/OI |
| To: | |
| Malone, Tina | |
| References | |
| NUREG/BR-0525 R1 | |
| Download: ML22180A116 (2) | |
Text
OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS Tracy Higgs, Director 11555 Rockville Pike O-3 F1 Rockville, MD 20852 (301) 415-2373 FIELD OFFICES Region IKing of Prussia, PA Francis Gore Special Agent in Charge (610) 337-5243 Region IIAtlanta, GA Alejandro Echavarria Special Agent in Charge (404) 997-4871 Region IIILisle, IL Paul A. Meyer Special Agent in Charge (630) 829-9672 Region IVArlington, TX Gayle R. Walker Special Agent in Charge (817) 200-1110 NUREG/BR-0525, Revision 1 June 2022 S T A Y C O N N E C T E D The Commission and NRC Headquarters are located in Rockville, Maryland. The four regional offices are located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Lisle, Illinois; and Arlington, Texas.
MN WI IA IL OH MI IN CA NV OR WA ID UT WY MT CO NM AZ TX OK KS NE SD ND AR LA AK HI MS AL TN KY VA WV GA FL SC NC MO PA NY ME VT CT NH MD DC DE NJ RI MA Region II Region I Region III Region IV PR USVI NRC Regions Headquarters (1)
Regional Oce (4)
Technical Training Center (1)
Region IV oversees a nuclear plant in Missouri
ABOUT THE NRC The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials for civilian purposes while also protecting people and the environment. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine.
The NRC is headed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms. One Commissioner is designated Chairman by the President. The Commission is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
HISTORY The Energy Reorganization Act, signed into law October 11, 1974, created the NRC as an independent agency. The Act simultaneously abolished the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The NRC, which took over the regulatory functions of the AEC, formally came into being on January 19, 1975. The Energy Research and Development Administration, also created by the Act, took over the other functions of the AEC and is now part of the U.S. Department of Energy.
TODAY The NRC regulates the civilian uses of nuclear materials in the United States to protect public health and safety, the environment, and the common defense and security. The NRC accomplishes its mission by licensing nuclear facilities and the possession, use, and disposal of nuclear materials; the developing and implementing of requirements governing licensed activities; and conducting inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities to ensure compliance with these requirements. In addition, the NRC is responsible for the licensing of nuclear facilities, and the import and export of nuclear equipment and materials.
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS In 1982, the NRC established the Office of Investigations (OI) as part of an agency effort to improve the quality of its investigative work and to support the NRCs overall mission. OIs investigative authority is derived from (Section 161(c)) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. § 2201(c)) and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 1.36, Office of Investigations.
LEADERSHIP NRCs OI is headed by a Director and Deputy Director who both work at NRC Headquarters in Rockville, Maryland along with the headquarters staff. Special Agents who work as Federal criminal investigators (Federal job series 1811) staff offices in each of the NRCs four regions under the supervision of a Special Agent in Charge, who reports directly to OI Headquarters. All OI special agents are graduates of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or other Federal law enforcement training academies.
They also have extensive prior investigative service with other Federal law enforcement agencies.
MISSION As the law enforcement arm of the NRC, OI conducts and supervises investigations of allegations of wrongdoing by persons or entities within NRC jurisdiction and maintains proactive investigative efforts and liaison with other Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies. The OI conducts and plans investigations of allegations of potential wrongdoing to determine willful or deliberate violations, as well as any criminal violations of the United States Code. The OI conducts investigations in accordance with the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency and the Quality Standards for Investigations.
INVESTIGATIONS The OI initiates investigations after the NRC receives information concerning potential wrongdoing. The NRC may receive this information either through an allegation from sources external to the NRC or as a result of inspections performed by agency personnel. In a typical case, the special agent will obtain preliminary information regarding the incident or allegation.
Special Agents will seek technical assistance, as needed, from NRC regional or headquarters staff to obtain a thorough understanding of the technical and legal issues and the regulatory requirements involved. Special Agents will develop an investigative plan that is primarily comprised of conducting witness interviews, employing investigative techniques, conducting extensive reviews of pertinent documents, and collecting relevant evidence.
PARTNERSHIP At times, a member of the NRCs technical staff may be called upon to participate as part of the investigative team to assist OI in addressing complex technical, safety, or security issues. After completing the investigation, OI management issues a report of investigation.
The NRC staff then reviews the report for civil enforcement. The agency refers substantiated willful wrongdoing investigations to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecution determination.