Resolution of Generic Safety Issues: Task IV.B: Issuance of Instructions and Information to Licensees ( NUREG-0933, Main Report with Supplements 1–35 )

The objective of this task is to develop a more efficient and effective managment method for issuing information and requirements to licensees to elimination the duplication of staff effort for NRC and licensees. Provide an NRC-wide system for tracking safety issues.

ITEM IV.B.1: REVISE PRACTICES FOR ISSUANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION TO LICENSEES

DESCRIPTION

In addition to providing information to licensees in circulars, notices, and letters, the NRC requests actions from licensees lin various forms such as generic letters and bulletins. NSSS vendors also issue instructions that are periodically referenced in NRC bulletins. However, at the time NUREG-0660⁴⁸ was being prepared, it was believed that coordination between NRC offices was not always effective and inefficiency or duplication resulted. Necessary information was not being received promptly by cognizant supervisors and this adversely affected licensee actions and the understanding of safety issues. As a result, the technical resources of both the NRC and licensees were being diluted.

In order to address this problem, the TMI Action Plan⁴⁸ called for the establishment of an NRC staff-level task force to review overall NRC practices concerning issuance of information to licensees, requests for information from licensees, and issuance of various requirements for licensees (including staff issuance of Technical Specifications without request by licensees). The objectives of this review were: (1) to identify for further study other practices which detract from the application of resources that should be applied to improvement of safety; and (2) to evaluate related matters such as systems to track resolution of safety issues.

After the task force was established and recommendations made, a significant reorganization that addressed the issue was approved by Chairman Palladino for implementation in November 1981. This reorganization established the new posi-tion of Deputy Executive Director for Regional Operations and Generic Requirements (DEDROGR) to support the EDO's management, control, and tracking of requirements placed on licensees.

In accordance with the NRC Manual Chapter NRC-0103, issued on September 2, 1982, the DEDROGR is responsible for "...establishing and directing the implementation of procedures for controlling and tracking generic communications with, and generic requirements placed on, licensees; serving as chairman of a committee to review generic requirements; overseeing and implementing procedures to reduce and control the backlog of licensing actions;...."

As a result of the above accomplishments, all action required by this item has been completed.^248,379,406 This item is not directly related to safety and, therefore, is considered a licensing issue.

CONCLUSION

This Licensing Issue has been resolved.

REFERENCES

0048. NUREG-0660, "NRC Action Plan Developed as a Result of the TMI-2 Accident," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, May 1980, (Rev. 1) August 1980. 0248. Memorandum for W. Dircks from R. DeYoung, "TMI Action Plan—Completed Items," December 28, 1981. [8205260197] 0379. Memorandum for H. Denton from R. DeYoung, "Draft Report on the Prioritization of Non-NRR TMI Action Plan Items," January 24, 1983. [8401160474] 0406. Memorandum for W. Dircks from R. DeYoung, "TMI Action Plan—Status Report," March 4, 1982. [8204290601]