ML24047A075
| ML24047A075 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/30/2023 |
| From: | Huda Akhavannik NRC/NMSS/DMSST |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24047A075 (1) | |
Text
November 30, 2023 (Rev 2)
DEEP Air Bureau Radiation Division Values & Principles
- Ensuring the safe, secure, and environmentally responsible use of ionizing radiation.
2 Vision Ensuring the safe, secure, and environmentally responsible use of ionizing radiation.
Mission Statements DEEP. We are dedicated to conserving, improving and protecting our natural resources and the environment - and increasing the availability of cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable energy.
Environmental Quality. The Bureaus of Air Management, Materials Management and Compliance Assurance, and Water Protection and Land Reuse, focus on this mission through environmental monitoring, permitting, enforcement, cleanup of contaminated sites, and pollution prevention strategies.
Air Bureau. Protect human health, safety and the environment and enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Connecticut by managing air quality, radioactive materials and radiation.
Radiation Division. The Radiation Division ensures the safe, secure, and environmentally responsible use of ionizing radiation.
3 Radiation Division Organizational Values In conducting all of our work, we will adhere to the following organizational values. These values guide every action we take - from decisions on safety, security, and environmental issues; to how we perform administrative tasks; to how we interact with our fellow employees and other stakeholders. We expect our stakeholders interactions to be conducted in the spirit of these values.
Commitment to public health and safety, security and the environment dedicated, diligent, vigilant Integrity in our working relationships, practices and decisions trustworthy, reliable, ethical, unbiased Accountability to own our actions and meet our commitments consistent follow-through Service to the public, and others who are affected by our work responsive, proactive Cooperation in the planning, management, and performance of agency work helpful, sharing, team-oriented, engaged Openness in communications and decision-making transparent, forthright, candid Respect for individuals diversity, roles, beliefs, viewpoints, and work-life balance professional, courteous, objective, compassionate Excellence in our individual and collective actions high quality, continuously improving, self-aware
4 Principles of Good Regulation Our statues and regulations balance the protection of the public and the environment with the positive benefits that can be achieved through the responsible use of ionizing radiation. As a responsible regulator with a very important public safety, security and environmental protection mission, our values guide us in maintaining certain principles in the way we carry out our regulatory activities. These principles focus us on ensuring safety, security, and environmental protection while appropriately balancing the interests of our stakeholders, including both the public and the regulated community.
The principles are:
Compliance Focus. Ensuring effective compliance with rules and regulations is an important factor in safeguarding health and safety, protecting the environment, and securing stable state revenue. The potential for cooperative actions, outreach, and market forces to support compliance and enforcement should be explored wherever possible: inspections and enforcement cannot be everywhere and address everything, and there are many other ways to achieve regulations objectives.
Independence. Nothing but the highest possible standards of ethical performance and professionalism should influence our actions. However, independence does not imply isolation. All available facts and opinions must be sought openly from the regulated community as well as other interested members of the public. The many and possibly conflicting public interests involved must be considered.
Openness. Regulation of radiation is the public's business, and it must be transacted publicly and candidly. The public must be informed about and have the opportunity to participate in the regulatory processes as required by Freedom of Information statutes. Open channels of communication must be maintained with other state agencies, regional and federal partners, the regulated community, and the public, as well as with the national and international radiological communities.
Efficiency. The Connecticut taxpayers, consumers, and regulated community are all entitled to the best possible administration of regulatory activities. We must evaluate and continually upgrade our regulatory capabilities. Regulatory activities should be consistent with the degree of safety, security, and environmental protection they achieve. Enforcement needs to be risk-based and proportionate: the frequency of inspections and the resources employed should be proportional to the level of risk and enforcement actions should be aimed at reducing the actual risk posed by infractions. Where several effective alternatives are available, the option which minimizes the use of resources should be adopted.
Regulatory decisions should be made without undue delay.
Clarity. Regulations should be coherent, logical, and practical. There should be a clear nexus between regulations and public safety, security and environmental protection. Our regulatory positions should be readily understood and easily applied.
Reliability. Regulations and regulatory actions should be based on the best available knowledge from scientifically sound research and operational experience. Once established, regulation should be perceived to be reliable and not unjustifiably in a state of transition. Regulatory actions should always be fully consistent with written regulations and agency practices and should be promptly, fairly, and decisively administered.
5 Safety Culture We recognize that organizations overseeing and performing regulated activities should establish and maintain a positive safety culture consistent with the safety and security significance of the activities conducted.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) defines nuclear safety culture as the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure the protection of the people and the environment. As such, the NRC has developed a Safety Culture Policy Statement which describes certain personal and organizational traits that are present in a positive safety culture. We have adopted this safety culture statement (as published in the Federal Register (76 FR 34773).
A positive safety culture can be described as having as a safety-first focus. The NRC Safety Culture Policy statement contains nine traits that are important to a positive safety culture:
Leadership Safety Values and Actions - Leaders demonstrate a commitment to safety in their decisions and behaviors; Problem Identification and Resolution - Issues potentially impacting safety are promptly identified, fully evaluated, and promptly addressed and corrected commensurate with their significance; Personal Accountability - All individuals take personal responsibility for safety; Work Processes - The process of planning and controlling work activities is implemented so that safety is maintained; Continuous Learning - Opportunities to learn about ways to ensure safety are sought out and implemented; Environment for Raising Concerns - A safety-conscious work environment is maintained where personnel feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or discrimination; Effective Safety Communication - Communication maintains a focus on safety; Respectful Work Environment - Trust and respect permeate the organization; and Questioning Attitude - Individuals avoid complacency and continuously challenge existing conditions and activities, to identify discrepancies that might result in error or inappropriate action.
There may be traits not included in this Statement that are also important in a positive safety culture. It should be noted that these traits were not developed to be used for inspection purposes. The full NRC safety culture policy statement can be found in the Federal Register (76 FR 34773).