ML112940226 

UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

OFFICE OF FEDERAL AND STATE MATERIALS 

AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS 

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION 

OFFICE OF NEW REACTORS 

WASHINGTON, DC 20555 

January 17, 2012 

NRC REGULATORY ISSUE SUMMARY 2012-01

AVAILABILITY OF SAFETY CULTURE POLICY STATEMENT 

ADDRESSEES

All U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensees, certificate holders, permit holders, 

authorization holders, holders of quality assurance program approvals, vendors and suppliers of 

safety-related components, and applicants subject to NRC authority. All Agreement State 

Radiation Control Program Directors, State Liaison Officers, and other interested stakeholders. 

INTENT

The NRC is issuing this regulatory issue summary (RIS) to inform addressees of the availability 

of the Commission safety culture policy statement. No specific action or written response is 

required. The NRC is also providing this RIS to Agreement States for their information and for 

distribution to their licensees, as they deem appropriate. 

BACKGROUND

The NRC recently published in the Federal Register (76 FR 34773; June 14, 2011), its policy 

statement on safety culture, which is attached for your reference. The agency developed the 

safety culture policy statement over a 3-year period, during which it engaged in extensive 

outreach with a broad range of stakeholders. 

This policy statement sets forth agency expectations that individuals and organizations involved 

in NRC-regulated activities establish and maintain a positive safety culture proportionate to the 

safety and security significance of their activities and the nature and complexity of their 

organizations. The safety culture policy statement applies to all licensees; certificate holders; 

permit holders; authorization holders; holders of quality assurance program approvals; vendors 

and suppliers of safety-related components; and applicants for a license, certificate, permit, 

authorization, or quality assurance program approval, subject to NRC authority. In addition, the 

Commission encourages the Agreement States, their licensees, and other organizations 

interested in nuclear safety to support the development and maintenance of a positive safety 

culture within their regulated communities. 
RIS 2012-01 

Page 2 of 3 

SUMMARY OF ISSUE

“Safety culture” refers to the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment, 

by leaders and individuals, to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of 

people and the environment. The safety culture policy statement is not a regulation and, as 

such, does not impose requirements; rather, the safety culture policy statement complements 

agency regulations and guidance. The Commission expects the members of the regulated 

community to take the necessary steps to promote a positive safety culture by fostering the nine 

traits outlined in the policy statement as those traits apply to their specific activities. A trait, in 

this case, is a pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that emphasizes nuclear safety. The 

traits included in the safety culture policy statement are (1) leadership safety values and actions, 

(2) problem identification and resolution, (3) personal accountability, (4) work processes, 

(5) continuous learning, (6) environment for raising concerns, (7) effective safety 

communication, (8) respectful work environment, and (9) questioning attitude. 

The NRC has developed a brochure (NUREG/BR-0500, “Safety Culture Policy Statement,” 

issued June 2011) that is intended to aid stakeholders in understanding the safety culture traits. 

The safety culture brochure describes the development of the policy statement and defines the 

phrase “nuclear safety culture” and the traits of a positive nuclear safety culture. 

The policy statement, including relevant background documents, Federal Register notices, 

meeting notices, and presentations made at public meetings, can be accessed on the NRC’s 

safety culture Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/

safety-culture.html. The Web site also includes the safety culture brochure and tools (e.g., case 

studies) that support the policy statement. Spanish versions of the safety culture policy 

statement and the safety culture brochure are available on the Web site. 

BACKFIT DISCUSSION 

This RIS requires no action or written response. Any action on the part of addressees in 

accordance with the guidance contained in this RIS is strictly voluntary and, therefore, is not a 

backfit under any regulatory requirement in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 

Consequently, the staff did not perform a backfit analysis. 

FEDERAL REGISTER NOTIFICATION 

The NRC did not publish a notice of opportunity for public comment on this RIS in the Federal 

Register because this RIS is informational and does not represent a departure from current 

regulatory requirements. 

CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT 

This RIS is not a rule as designated by the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 801–808) 

and, therefore, is not subject to the requirements of the Act. 

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT 

This RIS does not contain any information collections and therefore, is not subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 
 RIS 2012-01 

Page 3 of 3 

CONTACT

If you have any questions about this RIS, please contact the technical staff member listed below 

or the appropriate regional office. 

/RA/ /RA/ 

 

Brian J. McDermott, Director John D. Kinneman, Director 

Division of Materials Safety Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and State Agreements and Safeguards 

Office of Federal and State Materials Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Environmental Management Programs and Safeguards 

/RA/ /RA/ 

Timothy J. McGinty, Director Laura A. Dudes, Director 

Division of Policy and Rulemaking Division of Construction Inspection 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Operational Programs 

 Office of New Reactor s 

Contact: Cindy Flannery, FSME/DILR 

 (301) 415-0223 

 E-mail: cindy.flannery@nrc.gov 

Enclosure: 

Final Safety Culture Policy Statement (76 FR 34773; June 14, 2011) 

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC Public Web site, 

http://www.nrc.gov under NRC Library/Document Collections. 

.
RIS 2012-01 

Page 3 of 3 

CONTACT

If you have any questions about this RIS, please contact the technical staff member listed below 

or the appropriate regional office. 

/RA/ /RA/ 

Brian J. McDermott, Director John D. Kinneman, Director 

Division of Materials Safety Division of Fuel Cycle Safety 

 and State Agreements and Safeguards 

Office of Federal and State Materials Office of Nuclear Material Safety 

 and Environmental Management Programs and Safeguards 

/RA/ /RA/ 

Timothy J. McGinty, Director Laura A. Dudes, Director 

Division of Policy and Rulemaking Division of Construction Inspection 

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and Operational Programs 

 Office of New Reactor s 

Contact: Cindy Flannery, FSME/DILR 

 (301) 415-0223 

 E-mail: cindy.flannery@nrc.gov 

Enclosure: 

Final Safety Culture Policy Statement (76 FR 34773; June 14, 2011) 

Note: NRC generic communications may be found on the NRC Public Web site, 

http://www.nrc.gov under NRC Library/Document Collections. 

Distribution: PUBLIC DILR r/f 

ADAMS ACCESION NO.: ML113180253 

OFC FSME/DILR DNMS: RI DFFI: RII DNMS: RIII DNMS: RIV Tech Editor 

NAME CFlannery RLorson AGody ABoland RCaniano JDougherty 

DATE 10/20/11 10/23/11 10/24/11 10/21/11 10/20/11 10/21/11 

OFC FSME/MSSA FSME/DWMEP NMSS/FCSS NMSS/SFST FSME/MSSA OE 

NAME BMcDermott LCamper JKinneman VOrdaz AMcIntosh RZimmerman

DATE 10/27/11 10/26/11 11/18/11 11/18/11 10/28/11 11/16/11 

OFC OGC FSME/DILR DIRS NRO:D DPR DPR:D 

NAME JBiggins KMcConnell JLubinski LDudes CHawes TMcGinty 

DATE 12/21/11 12/22/11 12/15/11 12/13/11 01/04/12 1/17/12 

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY