TO: 

FROM: 

SUBJECT: 

RESPONSE SHEET 

Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary 

Chairman Burns 

COMSECY-16-0006: REVISION TO THE AGENCY'S LONG-TERM 

RESEARCH PROGRAM AND RELATED REPORTING TO THE 

COMMISSION 

Approved X Disapproved Abstain Not Participating -- ~-

COMMENTS Below 

Comments: 

Entered in STARS 

Yes X 

------

No 

Attached --

-- --

None X 

I March 2016 

Date 
TO: 

FROM: 

SUBJECT: 

RESPONSE SHEET 

Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary 

COMMISSIONER SVINICKI 

COMSECY-16-0006: REVISION TO THE AGENCY'S 

LONG-TERM RESEARCH PROGRAM AND RELATED 

REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION 

Approved XX Disapproved Abstain Not Participating -- --

COMMENTS: Below Attached XX None 

Entered in "STARS" Yes 
Commissioner Svinicki's Comments on COMSECY-16-0006 

Revision to the Agency's Long-Term Research Program and 

Related Reporting to the Commission 

I approve the staff's proposal to re-examine how long-term research at the NRC can be 

performed more effectively and efficiently. I note the staff's admission that in preparing SECY16-0009, "Recommendations Resulting from the Integrated Prioritization and Re-Baselining of 

Agency Activities," the staff considered including the Long-Term Research Program (L TRP) as 

an item to be shed. However, after examining the annual status update of the L TRP projects, 

provided as an enclosure to this paper, I arrived at a similar conclusion to that of the staff. At 

bottom, the topic areas appear to have varying degrees of connection to the NRC's regulatory 

program of work, but in every case the L TRP projects appear to be planned and executed on a 

pace and in a manner disjointed from the associated work in the corresponding inspection and 

licensing programs. For example, the project entitled, "Strategic Approach for Obtaining 

Material and Component Aging Information from Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants" is 

intended to result in data to "support the evaluation of aging management programs for potential 

subsequent license renewal applications," but the project itself - which develops only a 

roadmap for the collection of such data - does not end until FY 2017. This timing does not 

appear to align with the agency's planned completion of updated guidance on this topic (a draft 

of which is already released for public comment) or the receipt of a possible first subsequent 

license renewal application in 2018. Clearly, a relook at this and the other L TRP projects is 

needed. 

The staff's reassessment of the L TRP should begin with a review of past L TRP projects, to 

include an assessment of the practical effects of the results of past projects on the regulatory 

framework and the role and impact of these past projects on regulatory outcomes. If the staff 

recommends continuing the L TRP, the staff should also develop objective measures of 

efficiency for L TRP projects and establish methods to tie interim milestones and schedules 

more directly to user needs in the licensing and oversight programs. In examining the value of 

the LTRP, the staff should examine similarities and overlap between the L TRP and the generic 

issues program, including an assessment of how integration between the two programs could 

be beneficial and whether the two programs could be blended to accomplish the objectives of 

both in a more efficient manner. 

At the time of Commission action on COMDEK-06-001 , the agency was facing the prospect of a 

national nuclear renaissance and the need for a strong anticipatory research program at the 

NRC was more readily apparent. I appreciate the staff's recognition that circumstances are 

clearly different ten years later. In light of this, a fundamental reconsideration of the L TRP is 

appropriate at this time. 

~ 5April2016 
RESPONSE SHEET 

TO: Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary 

FROM: COMMISSIONER OSTENDORFF 

SUBJECT: COMSECY-16-0006: REVISION TO THE AGENCY'S LONG-TERM RESEARCH 

PROGRAM AND RELATED REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION 

Approved xx Disapproved Abstain Not Participating ---

COMMENTS Below xx Attached None 

Comments: 

I approve the staff's proposal to reconsider the Agency's Long-Term Research Program to examine how 

long-term research can be performed more effectively and efficiently. This proposal is in keeping with the 

objectives of Project AIM, and I encourage the staff to continue to identify opportunities such as this to 

ensure an efficient and effective use of NRC resources. 

Entered in STARS 

Yes 

No 

Date 
TO: 

FROM: 

SUBJECT: 

RESPONSE SHEET 

Annette Vietti-Cook, Secretary 

Commissioner Baran 

COMSECY-16-0006: REVISION TO THE AGENCY'S 

LONG-TERM RESEARCH PROGRAM AND RELATED 

REPORTING TO THE COMMISSION 

Approved XX Disapproved Abstain Not Participating -- -- --

COMMENTS: Below XX Attached None 

I approve the staff's proposal to reassess the Long-Term Research Program. I agree 

with the staff that we should evaluate and update how NRC conducts long-term research in 

order to maximize the value of this work, which is important to maintaining a balanced portfolio 

of confirmatory and anticipatory research. I appreciate the staff's thoughtful approach and look 

forward to reviewing the staff's plans later this year. 

Entered in STARS 

Yes XX 

No 

<flt//(.,, 

Date