[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21585]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 1, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 

Pilot Program for NRC Recognition of Good Performance by Nuclear 
Power Plants; Request for Comment

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requests public comment on 
the Pilot Program for NRC Recognition of Good Performance by Nuclear 
Power Plants. The relevant program information was provided to the 
Commission on March 18, 1994, and is available in Public Document Rooms 
under accession number 9403280344 (SECY-94-071). The NRC will consider 
comments received from interested parties in analyzing the pilot 
program prior to making a final recommendation to the Commission.

DATES: The comment period expires October 3, 1994. Comments received 
after this date will be considered if it is practical to do so, but 
assurance of consideration cannot be given except for comments received 
before this date.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: The Chief, Rules Review and 
Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555. Hand delivered comments may also be delivered to Room T-6 D59, 
11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., 
Federal workdays. Copies of comments received may be examined at the 
NRC Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW. (Lower Level), Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Markley, Operations 
Engineer, Inspection and Regulatory Criteria Branch; Program 
Management, Policy Development and Analysis Staff; Office of Nuclear 
Reactor Regulation; U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 
20555, (301) 504-1011.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 1990, the Commission requested the 
staff develop a pilot program to recognize outstanding safety 
performance in the industry. In August 1990, the Commission approved a 
program proposed by the staff for trial implementation. At the January 
1991 senior management meeting (SMM), senior managers discussed 
implementation of the Good Performer Program, and recommended several 
improvements to the process. The program was first used at the June 
1991 SMM. Since June 1991, the NRC has recognized 16 nuclear power 
plants that have demonstrated outstanding performance.
    The staff provided the Commission with an update on the status of 
the pilot program on March 18, 1994 (SECY-94-071). The current staff 
guidelines for the NRC Good Performer Program and the historic results 
are detailed in that paper.
    During the Periodic Briefing on Operating Reactors and Fuel 
Facilities on June 23, 1994, the Commission requested that the staff 
solicit industry and public comment on the Good Performer Program. The 
staff has developed a set of questions for the public to consider in 
reviewing the Good Performer Program. These questions are:
    1. Should the NRC continue the Good Performer Program?
    2. What changes, if any, would enhance the current program?
    3. What attributes should the NRC consider in assessing licensees 
for Good Performer recognition?
    4. What other programs can the NRC use to provide positive 
reinforcement or recognize good performance?
    5. What other NRC programs should be modified to support the Good 
Performer Program?
    6. Has the NRC's Good Performer Program selected the outstanding 
plants?
    7. Do licensees consider recognition by the Good Performer Program 
as an organizational goal?
    8. Are there any adverse effects, real or perceived, from being on 
the NRC's Good Performer list?
    9. Are there any indications of ``rising standards'' for Good 
Performer recognition since 1991?
    10. Has the industry benefited or been penalized from use of Good 
Performer Program results by external organizations?
    11. What benefits, if any, have been realized by the licensees 
recognized for good performance?
    Public comments are requested to assist the NRC in the analysis of 
the Good Performer Program. The program is described in SECY-94-071, 
``Update on the Status of Pilot Program for NRC Recognition of Good 
Performer by Nuclear Power Plants,'' which is available in NRC Public 
Document Rooms under accession number 9403280344. In addition to 
comment on the technical and regulatory aspects, responses referenced 
to the specific questions listed above would be appreciated.

Subject

    Pilot Program for NRC Recognition of Good Performer by Nuclear 
Power Plants; Request for Comment.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of August 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Anthony T. Gody,
Chief, Inspection and Regulatory Criteria Branch, Program Management, 
Policy Development and Analysis Staff, Office of Nuclear Reactor 
Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-21585 Filed 8-31-94; 8:45 am]
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