ML25224A199
| ML25224A199 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Technical Specifications Task Force |
| Issue date: | 08/07/2025 |
| From: | Wetzel B Division of Operating Reactor Licensing |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25224A199 (8) | |
Text
Driving Regulatory Decisions Through More Effective Communications 1
Key Messages
- Central to accomplishing the NRC mission is open, proactive, and timely communication between NRC staff and regulated entities
- OEDO Procedure-0235, Driving Regulatory Decisions Through More Effective Communications, issued on 7/2/25 (ML25167A039)
Provides guidance to facilitate a mindset shift in how the NRC staff communicates with regulated entities to achieve more efficient and reliable regulatory activities Identifies best practices to facilitate efficient resolution of issues while maintaining transparency Responds to stakeholder feedback for more open communication 2
Objectives
- Serve as a resource for NRC staff, providing strategies and practices for regulatory engagements
- Facilitate timely and efficient resolution of regulatory activities while maintaining independence and transparency
- Provide clearly documented expectations and guidance to NRC staff to support timely updating of agency procedures 3
Important Tenets of the Procedure Effective Communications versus Consulting Dos and Donts Examples 4
Commit the Agency to a Specific Course of Action Effective NRC staff Communication Discuss Options to Resolve Regulatory Issues Direct Implementation of a Specific Option Provide Competitive Advantage Clearly Identify and Describe Gaps Explain Processes and Requirements NRC Staff Consulting 5
Public / Non-public Meetings
- Non-public forums can be used when appropriate o Create publicly available records of the interaction
- Information discussed in non-public forums that go beyond clarification and logistics that is not already publicly available must be made public
- Balance openness and transparency with the need for efficient and effective regulation
- All information material to a regulatory decision must be docketed
- Follow requirements for protection of classified, safeguards, and proprietary information 6
NRC Staff Dos and Donts Do Dont
- Describe the specific regulatory issue and its safety significance
- Simply cite the regulatory requirements without describing the issue and its significance
- Provide an accurate, clear and concise technical or regulatory basis by referring to the applicable regulatory standard, acceptance criteria, and relevant guidance documents
- Simply identify an issue without providing the regulatory basis
- Identify and discuss possible options and alternatives for licensees, applicants, or vendors to consider, including pointing to past precedents or NRC regulatory guides (without making commitments)
- Recommend or direct implementation of a specific solution to resolve a regulatory issue 7
Questions/Feedback 8