[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 191 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58831-58832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25235]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Reactor Oversight Process Initial Implementation Evaluation Panel
AGENCY: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Reactor Oversight Process
Initial Implementation Evaluation Panel.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act of October 6,
1972 (Pub. L., 94-463, Stat. 770-776) the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) announces the Establishment of the Reactor Oversight
Process Initial Implementation Evaluation Panel (IIEP). The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission has determined that establishment of the Panel is
necessary and is in the public interest in order to obtain advice and
recommendations on the revised reactor oversight process (ROP). This
action is being taken in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee
Act after consultation with the Committee Management Secretariat,
General Services Administration (GSA).
Background: The ROP for commercial reactors is described in NRC
Inspection Manual Chapter 2515. Information on the development of the
ROP is contained in Commission papers SECY-99-007, ``Recommendations
For Reactor Oversight Process Improvements,'' dated January 8, 1999,
SECY-99-007A, ``Recommendations For Reactor Oversight Process
Improvements (Follow-up to SECY-99-007),'' dated March 22, 1999, and
SECY-00-049, ``Results of the Revised Reactor Oversight Process Pilot
Program,'' dated February 24, 2000.
[[Page 58832]]
These Commission papers describe the scope and content of
performance indicator reporting, a new risk-informed baseline
inspection program, a new assessment process, and revisions to the
enforcement policy. Commission paper SECY-00-049 also describes the
results from the Pilot Program Evaluation Panel (a previous Federal
Advisory Committees Act (FACA) panel), including a recommendation from
the panel to proceed with initial implementation of the ROP at all
power reactor facilities. On March 28, 2000, the Commission approved
initial implementation of the ROP, and on May 17, 2000, the Commission
directed the NRC staff to convene another evaluation panel under FACA
to evaluate the first year of implementation of the ROP. The staff has
established this IIEP in response to the Commission's directions.
The IIEP will function as a cross-disciplinary oversight group to
independently monitor and evaluate the results of the first year of
implementation of the ROP and provide advice and recommendations to the
Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation on reforming and
revising the ROP. The IIEP will provide a written report containing an
overall evaluation of the ROP to the Director of the Office of Nuclear
Reactor Regulation. Meetings of the Panel will be publically announced
in advance, open to the public, and all material reviewed placed in the
public document room. A meeting summary will be prepared following each
meeting to document the results of the meeting.
The Panel membership will include participants from NRC
headquarters and regional offices, a representative from the Nuclear
Energy Institute, reactor licensee management representatives, a
representative from the Union of Concerned Scientists (a public
interest group), and representatives from State Governments.
The establishment of the Panel will be effective with the filing of
its charter with the standing committees of Congress having legislative
jurisdiction over the NRC, the Library of Congress, and GSA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew L. Bates, Office of the
Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555:
Telephone 301-415-1963.
Dated: September 26, 2000.
Andrew L. Bates,
Advisory Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-25235 Filed 9-29-00; 8:45 am]
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