Defense
Nuclear
Facilities
Safety
Board

Washington, DC 20004

Policy
Statement

PS-9

Date: September 5, 2018

Subject

Policy Statement on the Resident
Inspector Program of the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.

Summary

This policy statement establishes
key aspects of the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
approach to field oversight.

Bruce Hamilton *
Acting Chairman



Background

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s enabling statute establishes that the Board

may assign staff to be stationed at any Department of Energy defense nuclear facility to carry out
the functions of the Board.

Il.

Policy

The Board will approve the appointment of each Resident Inspector, taking into
consideration line management recommendations.

Resident Inspectors shall undergo and successfully complete a formal, systematic training
and qualification program in order to prepare them to perform on-site independent safety
oversight. The training and qualification program shall ensure competency in areas
including, but not limited to: (1) applicable DNFSB and DOE processes and requirements
for work at defense nuclear facilities; (2) technical proficiency and expertise in
conducting independent safety oversight; (3) interfaces and communications with the
Board, DOE, contractor personnel, external entities, and the public; and (4) personal
conduct and interpersonal effectiveness.

The Resident Inspector Program shall include oversight of defined safety areas with
assigned periodicities. Associated procedures shall be developed for the conduct of
independent safety oversight of the safety areas within the given periodicities.

The Resident Inspector Program shall contain a formal transition plan for each Resident
Inspector to minimize any potential gaps in providing direct oversight at a defense
nuclear site.

The DNFSB internal control program shall include periodic assessments of the Resident
Inspector Program.

Resident Inspectors shall conduct frequent and direct safety oversight in accordance with
the Resident Inspector Program and consistent with the priorities established by the
Board.

Resident Inspectors shall provide the Board with weekly reports suitable for public
release that document their independent observations during the reporting period. They
will provide more detailed information to the Board through technical briefings.

Resident Inspectors shall provide input to the Board’s annual report to Congress,
summarizing the results of their independent safety oversight.


Resident Inspectors shall serve a tour of duty of specified length greater than one year
and no more than 5 years total associated with a defense nuclear site unless the Board
approves an extension. Terms shall be staggered at each site to minimize potential gaps
in providing direct oversight. This policy does not preclude Resident Inspectors from
relocating for reasons such as reassignments.

Line management is responsible for overseeing that Resident Inspectors conduct on-site
activities at defense nuclear facilities as intended, in accordance with the Resident
Inspector Program, and consistent with the priorities established by the Board. Line
management shall periodically (e.g., once a quarter) visit defense nuclear sites to directly
observe and assess the performance of Resident Inspectors.

The Board’s annual report to Congress shall describe the Board-approved Resident
Inspector staffing levels at each defense nuclear site along with its basis.