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. 97-002 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Monday, January 13, 1997)

NRC PUBLISHES STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS ON STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT

OF REGULATORY ACTIVITIES

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has published a report

summarizing comments received from the public, the nuclear

industry, its own staff, and other interested parties on its

strategic assessment and rebaselining initiative. The report

caps the second phase of the agency's strategic assessment

initiative launched by Chairman Shirley Ann Jackson last year in

an effort to provide a solid foundation for the agency's

direction and decision-making as it prepares for the 21st

Century.

In the first phase of the strategic assessment initiative,

the senior agency managers examined the activities and functions

of the agency as well as internal and external factors or

impacts. During the second phase, papers were developed which

outlined major issues identified in Phase I, along with options

for Commission consideration in dealing with those issues.

Before reaching final decisions on those issues, the Commission

sought stakeholder views so that these views could be considered

as the Commission made final decisions on major issues that would

form the bases of the NRC's Strategic Plan. The NRC held several

meetings with the NRC staff, and three public conferences -- in

Washington, D.C., Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Chicago,

Illinois -- to discuss the issue papers and obtain comments from

interested parties or stakeholders. Comments were received on

all 16 issue papers.

The Stakeholder Interaction Report summarizes and highlights

significant comments. Comments reflected a wide range of

views.

Some general observations made in the report include:

ˇ The demonstrated safety record of the nuclear industry

should not be minimized or lost. Commenters were concerned

that the issues discussed in the issue papers and the

strategic assessment and rebaselining initiative could be

perceived as something that was required because the current

regulatory process was broken or failed to insure safety;
ˇ The meetings provided an opportunity for NRC's stakeholders

to discuss issues and gain a better understanding of each

other's perspectives;

ˇ Non-industry stakeholders believe that NRC should view the

public, not the nuclear industry, as its primary customer;

ˇ A more consistent regulatory approach among various issues

is needed.

In addition to the summary and discussion in the report,

copies of all comments and transcripts of the public meetings

will be considered by the Commission in reaching final decisions.

In Phase III of the strategic assessment initiative, a

strategic plan will be developed based on the agency's mission,

general goals, and the Commission's decisions on the issue

papers. Phase IV will implement the strategic plan and integrate

it into the agency's budget, performance monitoring, and

Commission decision processes.

Copies of the Stakeholder Interaction Report are available

electronically on NRC's home page at http://www.nrc.gov and on

FedWorld at 1-800-303-9672. Paper copies are available by

calling NRC's Public Document Room, 1-800-397-4209.

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