NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

 Web Site: www.nrc.gov

No. 02-047 April 5, 2002

NRC FORMS OFFICE OF SECURITY TO STREAMLINE 

SECURITY, SAFEGUARDS AND INCIDENT RESPONSE ACTIVITIES

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is establishing an Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response to consolidate and streamline selected NRC security, safeguards, and incident response

responsibilities and resources. The newly created office will report to the Deputy Executive Director

for Reactor Programs. The move is effective April 7.

The formation of the new office is one result of the Commission’s ongoing top-to-bottom

review of its safeguards and physical security program in the aftermath of last September’s terrorist

attacks.

Until now, the assignment of security responsibilities has been determined by the type of facility

requiring protection. For example, the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) has

been responsible for the security programs for protection of fuel cycle facilities, materials,

transportation, disposal and certain waste-storage facilities, along with other regulatory activities

relating to those facilities. Another organization, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), has

been responsible for nuclear power plants and non-power reactors, decommissioning facilities, and

certain spent fuel storage facilities. The NRC has concluded that a centralized security organization is a

more effective and efficient way of organizing security activities. 

Among the intended benefits of the consolidation are improved communications and

coordination both within the agency and with external entities, including Federal and State agencies. 

The change will streamline communications, improve the timeliness and consistency of information,

and provide a more visible point of contact and effective counterpart to the Office of Homeland

Security, as well as other Federal agencies.

The consolidation will also integrate the NRC’s management of classified information,

unclassified but sensitive safeguards information, and secure communications facilities within one

organization.
The new office’s responsibilities will include:

-- The current responsibilities of the Incident Response organization, which include 

 managing the agency’s operations center, developing and directing the NRC program 

 for response to incidents, and interfacing with the Federal Emergency Management 

 Agency and other Federal organizations;

 -- Safeguards and security policy and oversight for nuclear reactors, decommissioning

 facilities, spent fuel storage installations, non-power reactors,

 uranium fuel fabrication facilities, mixed-oxide fabrication and processing

 facilities, other source material and use facilities, other special nuclear material

 facilities, enrichment facilities, associated waste processing facilities, and 

 transportation activities;

-- Material control and accounting and international safeguards activities of the Office of 

 Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards;

 -- Technical support and coordination for safeguards licensing and rulemaking

 activities implemented by the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and

 Safeguards and the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation;

 -- Development and oversight of safeguards and security inspection programs carried out

 by headquarters and regional offices;

 -- Development of contingency planning and emergency response activities for

 safety and safeguards events;

 -- Coordination with intelligence and law enforcement communities;

 -- Threat assessment; and

 -- Administration of NRC counter-intelligence, secure telecommunications,

 and classification/declassification programs. 

Resources for the functions to be consolidated in the proposed office, including about 90 staff 

members, will be transferred from existing NRC offices without an increase in the agency’s FY 2002

and FY 2003 budgets.

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