No. 07-099 August 8, 2007

NRC SEEKS COMMENTS ON DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is seeking public comments on its draft Strategic Plan,

covering Fiscal Years 2007 to 2012, that describes what the NRC intends to do over the next five years

to carry out its mission to protect people and the environment. The NRC’s vision is: Excellence in

licensing and regulating the safe and secure use and management of radioactive materials for the

public good.

The draft plan describes how the NRC as a strong, independent and stable regulator will

continue to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials and nuclear power in a dynamic environment. 

Some of the more significant challenges facing the agency over the next several years include the

expected receipt of applications to construct and operate new nuclear power plants and a high-level

nuclear waste facility. The draft Strategic Plan also addresses how the NRC will meet these challenges.

Safety and security continue to be the agency’s top strategic goals. Strategies to meet those

goals are described in the draft plan and reflect real world changes. For example, greater emphasis is

being placed on improving regulatory processes for ensuring the safety of new power reactors while

reflecting the agency’s continuing priority to ensure that existing reactors continue to operate safely.

Strategies also reflect increased security requirements for radioactive sources and high-enriched

uranium fuel.

The draft plan has four organizational excellence objectives that describe how the agency

intends to carry out its safety and security goals. They are: 1) openness, 2) effectiveness, 3) timeliness,

and 4) operational excellence. And as the NRC expands to meet its increasing workload, the document

emphasizes the important relationship between human capital, knowledge management, and space

challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure that the agency can successfully carry out its

mission.

When final, this Strategic Plan will replace the existing plan and will guide agency operations.

All interested individuals are encouraged to provide their comments on the draft Strategic Plan.

Stakeholder feedback is considered a valuable part of helping the Commission develop a final plan.

By September 7, all comments should be submitted to the NRC electronically at:

STRATPLAN@NRC.GOV; by mail to: Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Mail Stop T6-D59,

Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; or

faxed to: Chief, Rules and Directives Branch at (301) 415-5144.

NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

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

Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov
The draft Strategic Plan is available on NRC’s web site at: http://www.nrc.gov and is available

for inspection and copying for a fee at the NRC Public Document Room, 11555 Rockville Pike,

Rockville, Md. 20852.

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