United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20555

Phone 301-415-8200 Fax 301-415-2234

Internet:opa@nrc.gov

No. 00-013 January 14, 2000

NRC STAFF SCHEDULES THREE-DAY CONFERENCE

TO DISCUSS REGULATORY ISSUES WITH NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

Advanced registration is now available for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s

12th Annual Regulatory Information Conference, March 27, 28 and 29, at the Capital Hilton

Hotel, 16th and K Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.

The conference will focus on major issues and initiatives associated with the regulation of

commercial nuclear power plants. The NRC’s revised oversight process, risk-informing

regulations, license renewal and decommissioning are among the topics that conferees will

discuss during a variety of issue-specific sessions. For additional information and to register

for the conference, interested parties should access the NRC’s conference Web site at:

http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/REACTOR/RIC/2000/index.html, or contact IQ Solutions, Inc.

11300 Rockville Pike, Suite 801, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (phone) 301-984-1471,

(fax) 301-984-1333.

The conference is open to the public, but advanced registration is suggested.

Hotel reservations should be made through the Capital Hilton at 202-393-1000,

or 1-800-HILTONS.

After William D. Travers, Executive Director for Operations, opens the conference on

Monday, March 27, at 1 p.m., Chairman Richard A. Meserve will deliver the keynote speech.

Samuel J. Collins, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Regulation, and Ralph Beedle, Senior

Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), will then cochair a plenary session on conference objectives and expectations. Regional breakout sessions

will be held at 4:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, March 28, the conference will begin at 8 a.m. with a plenary session on

regulatory trends and eight issue-specific breakout sessions, including those on the revised

oversight process, decommissioning, technical specifications and licensing improvements,

effective/efficient regulation, waste issues and public confidence. Commissioner Greta Joy

Dicus will address a plenary session at noon followed by lunch, sponsored by the NEI, which

will feature Joe Colvin, the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer, as the guest

speaker. Luncheon tickets can be obtained at a cost of $35 per person by calling Nicki Rocco at

202-739-8048, or via e-mail at lec@nei.org.
The Tuesday post-luncheon schedule will include Commissioner Edward J. McGaffigan,

Jr. addressing the conferees in a plenary session at 2:15 p.m. Afternoon breakout sessions will

follow on risk-informing regulations, revised oversight processes, information access/sharing and

international regulatory experience. Commissioner Nils J. Diaz then will speak to the attendees

at 4:45 p.m.

The Wednesday session will start at 8 a.m. with a plenary session featuring

Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrifield. Four breakout sessions will follow on license renewal,

work-environment issues, industry initiatives and ongoing rulemakings. A feedback plenary

session will be held at 11a.m., with adjournment at noon.

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