Enclsosure 

Waiver of $500,000 Single Conference Limitation from 

Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-12-12,

“Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Operations”

As Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I hereby waive for the 

2015 Regulatory Information Conference (RIC) the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

proscription on spending over $500,000 on a single conference. The NRC anticipates holding 

the next annual RIC in March 2015. 

OMB Memorandum M-12-12, “Promoting Efficient Spending to Support Agency Operations,” 

dated May 11, 2012, states that an agency shall not incur net expenses greater than $500,000 

on a single conference; however, the memorandum also states that the “agency head may 

provide a waiver from this policy if it is determined that exceptional circumstances exist whereby 

spending in excess of $500,000 on a single conference is the most cost effective option to 

achieve a compelling purpose.” For the reasons detailed below, I have determined that 

exceptional circumstances exist whereby spending in excess of $500,000 on hosting the 2015 

RIC is the most cost-effective option to achieve a compelling purpose. 

The NRC’s mission is to “license and regulate the Nation’s civilian use of byproduct, source, and 

special nuclear materials, to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, promote 

the common defense and security, and protect the environment.” The RIC supports this mission 

as well as the NRC’s commitment to conducting its work openly and transparently, by providing 

a unique forum that brings together diverse groups of stakeholders to inform them of significant 

policy decisions and regulatory oversight activities. In addition, the RIC offers an environment in 

which NRC staff and stakeholders share relevant information, exchange views and 

perspectives, and raise concerns about the important safety, security, and policy issues before 

the agency. As we continue to learn from recent events and natural disasters, this forum is 

crucial to the mission of the agency. 

Since its inception in 1987, the RIC has grown to become one of the premier nuclear 

conferences of its kind in the world. It is widely attended, bringing together approximately 

3,000 participants from nearly 35 countries. Participants include members of the public; 

Federal, State, and local government officials; nuclear safety regulators from other nations; 

experts from the national laboratories; advocacy groups; media representatives; licensees; 

vendors; and other interested stakeholders. The technical program features nuclear experts 

from across the agency, as well as external speakers from industry, academia, public interest 

groups, and the international community. This educational conference also provides an 

exceptional opportunity for attendees to hear firsthand the views of each member of the 

Commission related to emerging regulatory issues and policy matters affecting the agency and 

the stakeholders. 

The RIC provides to the NRC the opportunity to cultivate international relationships, influence 

nuclear safety on a global scale, and foster the exchange of best practices in the nuclear arena. 
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The face-to-face interaction with members of industry, private interest groups, and other 

stakeholders is vital and provides wide-ranging opportunities to network, share ideas, raise 

issues or concerns, search for solutions, and establish relationships with colleagues from 

around the world. 

The RIC is highly valued by both the agency and external stakeholders for its technical and 

educational content. The nuclear industry strongly supports the RIC’s continuation (see the 

Nuclear Energy Institute’s letter to the NRC dated June 1, 2012 (Agencywide Documents 

Access and Management System Accession No. ML12153A358)). 

Successfully executing a conference as large and complex as the RIC requires meticulous 

coordination and effective management of resources. The NRC relies on two contracts to assist 

in the execution of the RIC: 1) the RIC facility contract; and 2) the RIC planning and logistical 

support contract (8a). 

As part of the NRC’s commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship, staff scrutinizes and 

monitors every aspect of the planning, logistics, and implementation, to ensure that the agency 

spends all monies in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. The RIC contract expenses 

are currently estimated at $750,000 each year. Under these contracts, the NRC acquires Web 

hosting, registration, information technology and audio visual support, onsite logistics, and 

conference facility meeting space. The NRC also uses in-house resources to supplement 

aspects of the conference. In-house resources provide agencywide coordination of technical 

program content and development, web support, design and production of both electronic and 

hard-copy conference materials, preregistration activities, and onsite staffing. 

The conference facility is located across the street from NRC headquarters and is within close 

walking distance from the White Flint Metro Station. This proximity to both NRC headquarters 

and public transportation greatly reduces travel and per diem costs for most Federal conference 

attendees, as well as the travel costs for planners during conference preparation. The benefits 

of being located near the NRC and Metro line are threefold: 1) it enables NRC staff to attend 

only the conference portions that are valuable to them and to return to their workplaces for the 

remainder of each day; 2) it allows the NRC to use its own headquarters facility for some of the 

needed additional meeting spaces at no additional cost; and 3) it enables NRC staff to conduct 

nonconference business with international counterparts that might otherwise necessitate 

international travel (further reducing travel costs for the NRC). 

The compelling purposes achieved by the RIC, coupled with its remarkable cost effectiveness, 

constitute an exceptional circumstance. On this basis, I am confident that the costs associated 

with executing the 2015 RIC are valid and prudent. Therefore, in accordance with OMB 

Memorandum M-12-12, I hereby waive the $500,000 single conference limitation for the 

2015 RIC. 

____________/RA/______________ _8/6/2014 _

Chairman Macfarlane Date