UNITED STATES 

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 

April 13, 2016 

MEMORANDUM TO: Victor M. McCree 

 Executive Director for Operations 

 Maureen E. Wylie 

 Chief Financial Officer 

FROM: Annette L. Vietti-Cook, Secretary /RA/ 

SUBJECT: STAFF REQUIREMENTS – SECY-16-0009 – 

RECOMMENDATIONS RESULTING FROM THE INTEGRATED 

PRIORITIZATION AND RE-BASELINING OF AGENCY 

ACTIVITIES 

The Commission commends the staff for its thorough and methodical approach and the 

extensive work undertaken to produce the set of recommendations. The Commission has 

approved the staff’s recommendations on items to shed, de-prioritize, and perform with fewer 

resources listed in Enclosure 1, with the following exceptions, and subject to the comments 

below. The Commission has also approved delegating to the EDO the authority to issue 

Federal Register notices and other documentation to inform the public of the rulemaking 

activities listed in Enclosure 1 that the Commission approves for delay or cancellation. 

The Commission has not approved Item 6-delaying the Dodd-Frank Rulemaking. 

It is important that the completion of the re-baselining effort and the other Project AIM tasks be 

viewed by the NRC staff and stakeholders as the beginning and not the end in our goal to be 

better positioned to respond to the challenges of 2020 and beyond. 

The staff should monitor the effect of these approved changes, commensurate with their 

significance, and report back to the Commission on future adjustments or course corrections 

that are needed, if any. 

The staff should track progress in developing a true picture of our skill mix and projected needs 

against the Strategic Workforce Plan (SWP) Action Plan and establish more concrete 

milestones for each element of the plan. The staff should update the Commission on strategic 

workforce restructuring every six months.

The staff should perform a set of specific business process improvement reviews in various 

areas and identify resource savings, and incorporate those savings into the FY 2018 budget and 

subsequent budgets. Beyond these reviews, the staff should plan further similar reviews in 

various areas of practice. 
With regard to Item 39- eliminating funding for the Minority Serving Institutions Programs 

(MSIP); in the event that funds are appropriated for the Integrated University Program, the staff 

should strive to support activities that were covered by the MSIP. 

With regard to Items 51, 52, and 59 – decreasing funding for fire protection research; the staff 

should continue funding research for those activities that relate to High-Energy Arc Faults 

testing. 

With regard to Item 108 - decrease resources for Rll Construction Inspection Program; the staff 

should evaluate future construction inspection needs in the formulation of the FY 2018 budget 

given the significant decrease in construction activity in the 2017 - 2020 period compared to 

projections from 2006. 

With regard to Item 35 - eliminating certain updates on the status of Japan lessons learned 

activities; the staff should provide monthly updates to the Commission. 

cc: Chairman Burns 

 Commissioner Svinicki 

 Commissioner Ostendorff 

 Commissioner Baran 

 OGC 

 CFO 

 OCA 

 OPA 

ODs, RAs, ACRS, ASLBP (via E-Mail) 

PDR