inspecting fuel cycle facilities, certifying the safety of
gaseous defusion plants, all regulatory aspects of high-
level nuclear waste as laid out in the Nuclear Waste Policy
Act of 1982, and policy, regulations and standards for
domestic and international safeguards.

Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental
Management Program—

This office was created in October 2006 to oversee the
regulation, through licensing and inspection, of the
commercial, academic and medical uses of radioactive
materials, uranium recovery, the decommissioning of
nuclear facilities, and low-level radioactive waste disposal
in the United States. It works closely with State and Tribal
governments and the public to ensure protection against
hazards in the use of radioactive materials.

Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research —

This office has two primary responsibilities: (1) to plan,
recommend and implement programs of nuclear
regulatory research and resolution of safety issues for
nuclear power plants and other facilities regulated by the
NRC; and (2) to coordinate research activities within and
outside the agency, including participation on national and
international committees and conferences.

Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response —

This office develops overall agency policy and provides
direction for security at nuclear facilities and is the
agency’s safeguards, security and response interface with
the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, the intelligence and law
enforcement communities, and the Department of Energy.
It also develops and directs the agency’s program for
response to incidents involving NRC-licensed facilities or
users of nuclear material. This office also works with
nuclear facility operators to develop and test effective
emergency preparedness plans to protect the community
should a radiological emergency occur.



For Additional Information Contac

Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

Telephone: (301) 415-8200
Fax: (301) 415-2234
E-mail: OPA@NRC.GOV
Website: www.nrc.gov

Regional Public Affairs Offices

Region | 475 Allendale Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415

(610) 337-5330

Region Il

61 Forsyth Street Suite 23T85
Atlanta, GA 30303-8931
(404) 562-4416

Region Ill

2443 Warrenville Road Suite 210
Lisle, IL 60532-4352
(630) 829-9663

Region IV

611 Ryan Plaza Drive Suite 400
Arlington, TX 76011-4005
(817) 860-8128

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KEY REGULATORY

OFFICES

The first major reorganization of the NRC since it was
established in 1975 was implemented in April 1987. The
reorganization reflected changes which had taken place over
the previous 12 years -- progressively less involvement with
the construction of large, complex nuclear facilities and
greatly increased involvement with the operation and
maintenance of these facilities. Additional changes were
made to consider applications to renew existing nuclear
power plant operating licenses and review applications to
certify advanced nuclear reactor designs. In 2006, NRC
began gearing up for a series of new power plant license
applications expected from the industry to start in late 2007.

Six program offices direct the NRC’s major regulatory
functions:

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation -—

The primary responsibilities of this office are to ensure
effective regulation and safe operation of the Nation’s
current fleet of over 100 commercial nuclear power plants.
Key functions are rulemaking, licensing, inspection,
assessment and oversight. In addition, this office handles
licensing and inspection of research and test reactors,
licensing reactor operators, and issuance of power uprates
and operating license renewals in support of the agency’s
mission to protect public health and safety and the
environment.

Office of New Reactors —

This office was formally established in January 2007 to
prepare for an expected series of applications for new power
reactor licenses. It is responsible for the review and
issuance of standard reactor design certifications, early site
permits, construction permits, operating licenses and
combined licenses for commercial nuclear power plants.

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards —

This office is responsible for overseeing the nuclear fuel
cycle from uranium processing through nuclear fuel
manufacturing and reprocessing, and spent nuclear fuel
storage, transport and disposal. This includes licensing and



OTHER KEY OFFICES

Office of Enforcement — This office develops policies and
programs for enforcement of NRC requirements.
Enforcement action is used as a deterrent to emphasize the
importance of compliance with regulatory requirements and
to encourage prompt identification and prompt,
comprehensive correction of violations. The office manages
major enforcement actions with regard to licensees and
assesses the effectiveness and uniformity of enforcement
actions taken by NRC regional offices. Enforcement powers
include notices of violations, fines, and orders to modify,
suspend or revoke a license.

Two separate offices are responsible for investigations of
possible wrongdoing:

Office of Investigations — This office is responsible for
conducting investigations of licensees, applicants,
contractors, and vendors. This includes investigating all
allegations of wrongdoing by individuals or organizations
other than NRC employees and NRC contractors. In
addition, the office keeps abreast of inquiries and
inspections and advises on the need for formal
investigations. It also keeps other components of the
agency informed of matters under investigation as they
affect safety matters.

Office of the Inspector General — The Inspector General is a
statutory post mandated by the Inspector General
Amendments Act of 1988. The office is responsible for
conducting independent reviews and appraisals of internal
NRC programs and for conducting investigations of alleged
wrongdoing by NRC employees andits contractors.



US.NRC

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Protecting People and the Environment

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY
COMMISSION



Four independent groups that serve the Commission are:

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards

This statutory body of scientists and engineers independent
of NRC staff, reviews and makes recommendations to the
Commission on all applications to build and operate nuclear
power reactors, the safety aspects of nuclear facilities and
the adequacy of safety standards. This includes uprate
license amendments and license renewals.

Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste

This advisory committee provides the Commission with
advice and recommendations independent of NRC staff
concerning all aspects of nuclear waste management for
which the NRC has responsibility.

Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes

This committee, composed of qualified physicians and
scientists, considers medical questions and, when asked,
gives expert opinions to the NRC on the medical uses of
radioactive material.

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel

Through the Atomic Energy Act, Congress made it possible
for the public to get a full and fair hearing on civilian nuclear
matters. Individuals who are directly affected by any
licensing action involving a facility producing or using
nuclear materials may submit a request to participate in a
hearing before independent judges of the Atomic Safety and
Licensing Board Panel.



Itis the NRC’s job to protect people and the environment from
radiation hazards through regulation of the various
commercial and institutional uses of nuclear material,
including nuclear power plants in the United States. The
mission is accomplished through:

mw establishment of standards, regulations and requirements
governing licensed activities;

§ licensing of nuclear facilities and the possession, use and
disposal of nuclear materials; and

i inspection of facilities and users to ensure
compliance with these requirements.

The NRC was created as an independent agency by the Energy
Reorganization Act, signed into law October 11, 1974, which
abolished the Atomic Energy Commission. The NRC, which
took over the regulatory functions of the AEC, began operating
on January 19, 1975. The Energy Research and Development
Administration, also created by the Energy Reorganization Act,
took over the other functions of the AEC and is now part of the
Department of Energy.

When President Gerald Ford signed the legislation, said, “The
highly technical nature of our nuclear facilities and the special
potential hazards which are involved in the use of nuclear fuels
fully warrant the creation of an independent and technically
competent regulatory agency to assure adequate protection of
public health and safety. NRC will be responsible for the
licensing and regulation of the nuclear industry under the
provisions of the Atomic Energy Act. This means that NRC will
be fully empowered to see to it that reactors using nuclear
materials will be properly and safely designed, constructed
and operated to guarantee against hazards to the public from
leakage or accident. NRC will also exercise strengthened
authority to assure that the public is fully safeguarded from
hazards arising from the storage, handling and transportation
of nuclear materials being used in power reactors, hospitals,
research laboratories or any other purpose."

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is headed by five
Commissioners appointed by the President and confirmed by
the Senate for five-year terms. One Commissioner is
designated Chairman by the President.



The NRC is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland. Its four
regional offices are in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania;
Atlanta, Georgia; Lisle, Illinois; and Arlington, Texas.

The NRC has about 3,500 employees and an annual budget
of about $800 million to carry out the three basic functions
listed below. In addition, the NRC is responsible for licensing
the export and import of nuclear facilities, equipment and
materials.

Licensing — The agency reviews and issues licenses for the
construction and operation of commercial nuclear power
plants, research reactors and other nuclear fuel cycle
facilities; and it licenses the possession and use of nuclear
materials for medical, industrial, educational, research and
other purposes. Regulatory authority for nuclear materials
licensing has been transferred to 34 states under the NRC's
Agreement States Program.

Inspection and Enforcement — The NRC conducts various
kinds of inspections and investigations designed to assure
that nuclear plant activities are conducted safely in strict
compliance with the terms of the license and the agency's
regulations and other requirements, and enforces
compliance as necessary.

Regulatory Research — The NRC provides independent
expertise and information for making timely regulatory
judgments, anticipating problems of potential safety
significance, and resolving safety issues. It also collects,
analyzes and disseminates information about the
Operational safety and security of commercial nuclear
power reactors and certain nuclear materials activities.

As directed by the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the NRC also
regulates gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment facilities
which the U.S. Enrichment Corporation leases from the
Department of Energy.