ML16070A115

Efforts to Improve Rulemaking Tracking and Reporting

ML16070A115
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	03/11/2016
From:	Portzline S Three Mile Island Alert
To:	NRC/EDO
References
Download: ML16070A115 (16)

Text

Efforts to Improve Rulemaking Tracking and ReportingU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting March 11, 2016Comments of Scott D. PortzlineSecurity Consultant to Three Mile Island AlertHarrisburg PA The NRC is to be commended for their effort to assist the public and stakeholders in rulemaking by taking advantage of modern tools to access the docketed records in a timely manner.The proposed improvements would be consistent with the Commission's objectives as stated by the NRC in "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process."June 12, 20082 in communication and decision makingoFacilitates public understandingoProvides an opportunity for affected people to participate in the processoIncreases credibilityand cooperationNRC'S slides: "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process"June 12, 20083 "The NRC rulemaking process is a matureprocess and we welcome suggestions on how to improve it."NRC'S slides: "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process"June 12, 20084 This is what happened to our petition for rulemaking:September 12, 2001 --TMI Alert filed a petition for rulemaking which would require guards to be posted at the entrances of "owner controlled areas" at nuclear power plants. The timing of the filing was coincidental to the 9-11 attacks and had been planned for six weeks prior to our filing.Petition for Rulemaking PRM-73-115 EXCESSIVE DELAYSThe NRC Repeatedly rescheduled the rulemaking.Offered no explanation for the rescheduling.Showed no accountability when challenged.FAILED TO CORRESPONDOn 13 separate occasions when the NRC rescheduled, we heard nothing.The NRC did not inform us of management changes as to who was handling our petition.INACCURATE INFORMATIONThe NRC incorrectly listed our petition as "completed" for several weeks on its web site until we requested the NRC to correct it.Meeting transcripts mistakenly stated that we were dis-cussing "entrance cards" instead of "entrance guards."* FULL REPORT onhow the NRC bungled an effort to create a new rule to require entrance guards. 10/31/2008 http://tinyurl.com/qj2mn3d6 TRIED TO DENY US A SEAT AT THE RULEMAKING TABLEThe NRC did not want to give me the opportunity to speak during the meeting.Our petition and background data was not in the room or on the document handout table.When we complained, the NRC made no attempts to correct the absence of our petition or background information.VANISHING ACTOur petition for rulemaking had disappeared, not only from the meeting, but from the process.There was no mention of our petition in the Power Reactor Security Requirements rulemaking, the rulemaking into which our petition had been supposedly merged.MISLED CONGRESS* NRC letters to congressional leaders stated that entrance guards are "already being considered in the ongoing Power Reactor Security Requirements rulemaking."NRC hid the fact that their staff had decided that entrance guards are not needed and that the "entrance guard petition" had been denied de facto.

• July 29, 2008 see ADAMS ML0812206097 SURPRISE ENDINGThe NRC failed to inform us when the petition was closed. NRC staff claimed they could not find my phone number or address. I learned that the petition was closed from the Union of Concerned Scientists.NO DECISIONThe NRC's correspondence only indicated that the petition was "considered resolved and closed."As per guidelines, petitions are decided with a letter clearly indicating:BLATANT DISREGARDActually, there were more than 40 occurrences when the NRC failed to adhere to its principles of openness and clarity, and to follow its procedural guidelines while handling the rulemaking.acceptance,partial acceptance,or denial.8 "Public confidence in the NRC is eroded each time we fail to resolve issues in a timely, clear, and transparent manner."NRC Commissioner Gregory JaczkoRegulatory Information ConferenceMarch 8, 2006 9 Unwanted consequences of commenting on proposed rules.10This main entrance gate at Three Mile Island is has been wide open and unguarded for more than a decade.

"Approaches: Particular emphasis must be placed on main and alternate entry routes for law-enforcement or other offsite support agencies and the location of control points for marshalling and coordinating response activities."Three Mile IslandThe north bridge is the main entrance for emergency responders.11Enhancements To Emergency Preparedness Rulemaking -2011 TMI Alert filed a comment on this rulemaking noting that without control of the two bridges at Three Mile Island, many aspects of the planned emergency responses could be severely compromised.Rather than address that issue, the NRC droppedthat portion of the proposed Emergency Preparedness Rule. Thisretraction meant that the objectives of the rule can not be ensured at TMI. Our comment for improving emergency preparedness actually served to weaken the rule!Currently, the entrance is wide open and the bridges are not controlled by security forces.12 NRC REPORT CARDPETITION FOR RULEMAKING13 More TroubleNRC staffers wanted to use TMI Alert's petition as a quintessential example of NRC petition handling failures. The NRC then failed to invite us to the special public meeting on petition problems as promised.14 What TMI Alert believes is needed:Clear rules.Follow the rules.One NRC staffer who will be held accountable for managing and executing a rulemaking, and for timely communications to all involved. A dedicated "grievance" handling officer if the rulemaking manager fails in his/her duties.15 end notes16FULL REPORT on how the NRC bungled an effort to create a new rule to require entrance guards. 10/31/2008. ADAMS #ML13140A166 or at http://tinyurl.com/qj2mn3dFINAL RULEMAKING -Power Reactor Security Requirements (RIN 3150-AG63) SECY-08-0099 July 9, 2008. ADAMS #ML081650474FINAL RULE: Enhancements To Emergency Preparedness Regulations (10 CFR PART 50 AND 10 CFR PART 52) April 8, 2011. ADAMS # ML102150180 Efforts to Improve Rulemaking Tracking and ReportingU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Public Meeting March 11, 2016Comments of Scott D. PortzlineSecurity Consultant to Three Mile Island AlertHarrisburg PA The NRC is to be commended for their effort to assist the public and stakeholders in rulemaking by taking advantage of modern tools to access the docketed records in a timely manner.The proposed improvements would be consistent with the Commission's objectives as stated by the NRC in "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process."June 12, 20082 in communication and decision makingoFacilitates public understandingoProvides an opportunity for affected people to participate in the processoIncreases credibilityand cooperationNRC'S slides: "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process"June 12, 20083 "The NRC rulemaking process is a matureprocess and we welcome suggestions on how to improve it."NRC'S slides: "Public Participation in NRC's Rulemaking Process"June 12, 20084 This is what happened to our petition for rulemaking:September 12, 2001 --TMI Alert filed a petition for rulemaking which would require guards to be posted at the entrances of "owner controlled areas" at nuclear power plants. The timing of the filing was coincidental to the 9-11 attacks and had been planned for six weeks prior to our filing.Petition for Rulemaking PRM-73-115 EXCESSIVE DELAYSThe NRC Repeatedly rescheduled the rulemaking.Offered no explanation for the rescheduling.Showed no accountability when challenged.FAILED TO CORRESPONDOn 13 separate occasions when the NRC rescheduled, we heard nothing.The NRC did not inform us of management changes as to who was handling our petition.INACCURATE INFORMATIONThe NRC incorrectly listed our petition as "completed" for several weeks on its web site until we requested the NRC to correct it.Meeting transcripts mistakenly stated that we were dis-cussing "entrance cards" instead of "entrance guards."* FULL REPORT onhow the NRC bungled an effort to create a new rule to require entrance guards. 10/31/2008 http://tinyurl.com/qj2mn3d6 TRIED TO DENY US A SEAT AT THE RULEMAKING TABLEThe NRC did not want to give me the opportunity to speak during the meeting.Our petition and background data was not in the room or on the document handout table.When we complained, the NRC made no attempts to correct the absence of our petition or background information.VANISHING ACTOur petition for rulemaking had disappeared, not only from the meeting, but from the process.There was no mention of our petition in the Power Reactor Security Requirements rulemaking, the rulemaking into which our petition had been supposedly merged.MISLED CONGRESS* NRC letters to congressional leaders stated that entrance guards are "already being considered in the ongoing Power Reactor Security Requirements rulemaking."NRC hid the fact that their staff had decided that entrance guards are not needed and that the "entrance guard petition" had been denied de facto.

• July 29, 2008 see ADAMS ML0812206097 SURPRISE ENDINGThe NRC failed to inform us when the petition was closed. NRC staff claimed they could not find my phone number or address. I learned that the petition was closed from the Union of Concerned Scientists.NO DECISIONThe NRC's correspondence only indicated that the petition was "considered resolved and closed."As per guidelines, petitions are decided with a letter clearly indicating:BLATANT DISREGARDActually, there were more than 40 occurrences when the NRC failed to adhere to its principles of openness and clarity, and to follow its procedural guidelines while handling the rulemaking.acceptance,partial acceptance,or denial.8 "Public confidence in the NRC is eroded each time we fail to resolve issues in a timely, clear, and transparent manner."NRC Commissioner Gregory JaczkoRegulatory Information ConferenceMarch 8, 2006 9 Unwanted consequences of commenting on proposed rules.10This main entrance gate at Three Mile Island is has been wide open and unguarded for more than a decade.

"Approaches: Particular emphasis must be placed on main and alternate entry routes for law-enforcement or other offsite support agencies and the location of control points for marshalling and coordinating response activities."Three Mile IslandThe north bridge is the main entrance for emergency responders.11Enhancements To Emergency Preparedness Rulemaking -2011 TMI Alert filed a comment on this rulemaking noting that without control of the two bridges at Three Mile Island, many aspects of the planned emergency responses could be severely compromised.Rather than address that issue, the NRC droppedthat portion of the proposed Emergency Preparedness Rule. Thisretraction meant that the objectives of the rule can not be ensured at TMI. Our comment for improving emergency preparedness actually served to weaken the rule!Currently, the entrance is wide open and the bridges are not controlled by security forces.12 NRC REPORT CARDPETITION FOR RULEMAKING13 More TroubleNRC staffers wanted to use TMI Alert's petition as a quintessential example of NRC petition handling failures. The NRC then failed to invite us to the special public meeting on petition problems as promised.14 What TMI Alert believes is needed:Clear rules.Follow the rules.One NRC staffer who will be held accountable for managing and executing a rulemaking, and for timely communications to all involved. A dedicated "grievance" handling officer if the rulemaking manager fails in his/her duties.15 end notes16FULL REPORT on how the NRC bungled an effort to create a new rule to require entrance guards. 10/31/2008. ADAMS #ML13140A166 or at http://tinyurl.com/qj2mn3dFINAL RULEMAKING -Power Reactor Security Requirements (RIN 3150-AG63) SECY-08-0099 July 9, 2008. ADAMS #ML081650474FINAL RULE: Enhancements To Emergency Preparedness Regulations (10 CFR PART 50 AND 10 CFR PART 52) April 8, 2011. ADAMS # ML102150180