ML18095A863
| ML18095A863 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/16/2018 |
| From: | Paul Michalak NRC/NMSS/DMSST/ASPB |
| To: | Gavitt S State of NY, Dept of Health |
| Michalak P | |
| References | |
| Download: ML18095A863 (3) | |
Text
G. Perez UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 April 16, 2018 Stephen Gavitt, CHP, Director Bureau of Environmental Radiation Protection Department of Health Empire State Plaza Corning Tower - 12th Floor Albany, NY 12237
Dear Mr. Gavitt:
This is in reference to our earlier discussion regarding the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) expectations for the State of New Yorks participation in NRC-provided training for radioactive materials inspectors and license reviewers under its Atomic Energy Act, Section 274b Agreement with the NRC (Agreement).
As we discussed, your program maintains a staff qualification plan that is compatible with the NRCs. In particular, we discussed that your qualification plan requires that each individual undergoing qualification attend formal training courses either offered by the NRC or an equivalent alternative. Your programs ability to adequately regulate source and byproduct material under your Agreement with the NRC is largely dependent on having a sufficient number of experienced, knowledgeable, and well-trained technical personnel.
To assist the 37 Agreement States in maintaining a sufficiently trained staff, the NRC provides free travel and training to courses that cover the entire range of technical areas needed by Agreement States. Over the last three years, Agreement States have filled over 1,500 training slots.
Recently, it has come to my attention that a number of State of New York personnel enrolled in the NRC-provided training classes have provided late notifications that they would not attend their scheduled training courses (i.e., less than one week before the scheduled class). These late notifications not only impact your program by delaying your staffs completions of their technical qualifications, but the late notifications also impact other Agreement State programs.
Late notifications inhibit the NRCs and other Agreement States ability to identify, and process replacement students to fill the vacated State of New York training slot.
As indicated in NRC guidance SA-200, the State of New York does have the option of developing its own formal qualification training program. This program must meet the essential elements of the NRCs program; however, the manner in which the essential elements are met need not be the same as the NRCs. The NRC will continue to provide the travel, lodging, and tuition costs for Agreement State staff, including staff from the State of New York, selected to attend NRC courses as funding is available. However, the NRC does request that the State of New York minimize notifications of non-attendance to unanticipated circumstances (e.g.,
sickness, personal issues, weather).
S. Gavitt If you have any additional questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me at (301) 415-5804 or Paul.Michalak@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Paul Michalak, Chief Agreement State Programs Branch Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
S Gavitt
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO STEPHEN GAVITT, DIRECTOR, NEW YORK BUREAU OF ENVIROMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION - NEED FOR TIMELY NOTIFICATION OF NON-ATTENDANCE. DATE: April 16, 2018 DISTRIBUTION:
Miller, RI Ford, RI MCasby, ASPB J. Nick, RI J. Trapp, Ri ML18095A863 OFC NMSS/MSST NMSS/MSST NMSS/MSST NAME PMichalak LHowell PMichalak DATE 4/16/18 4/09/18 4/16/ 18 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY