Press Release-00-020, NRC Modifies Resident Inspector Staffing Policy
| ML003682202 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/09/2000 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
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| Category:Press Release | |
| References | |
| Press Release-00-020 | |
| Download: ML003682202 (1) | |
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA No.00-020 February 9, 2000 NRC MODIFIES RESIDENT INSPECTOR STAFFING POLICY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the recommendations of its staff for modifying the resident inspector staffing policy at multi-unit nuclear power plant sites. The Commissions decision establishes a staffing policy until NRC completes a comprehensive review of inspector resources associated with the revised reactor oversight process. This review will be completed in June of next year.
The resident inspector staffing policy addresses the allocation of a portion of the agencys inspection resources -- namely, NRC resident inspectors. Adopted in 1988, that policy formerly required one more resident inspector at a site than the number of reactors at that site. As a result of the Commissions decision, two-unit sites will now have a minimum of two resident inspectors and three unit-sites will have a minimum of three resident inspectors. There will continue to be two resident inspectors assigned at all single-unit sites.
The Commissions action enhances the agencys flexibility in applying inspection resources.
As a result of improved industry safety performance, the need for the current level of dedicated on-site inspection staff at multi-unit sites has lessened. The modified approach provides for more targeted use of the agencys inspectors by basing more of them in one of the four regional offices where Regional Administrators can deploy them when and where most needed.
NRCs total inspection resources are not affected by this modification, and the agencys ability to complete planned reactor inspection program requirements will not be compromised. Moreover, Regional Administrators, in consultation with the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, will retain the authority to allocate additional resident inspectors to sites if circumstances warrant.
NRC will not reassign any resident inspectors solely to implement this policy until guidance is developed as a result of the broader staffing study. Thus, this action affects only those reactor sites where a resident inspector position becomes vacant before the comprehensive resource review is completed.