United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2001-05-08 monographic deposited born digital 10 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-707T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T P0b002ee18039b124 f:d01707t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T GAO-01-707T Independent regulatory commissions Nuclear powerplant safety Performance measures Personnel management Risk management Strategic planning Testimony A00963 This testimony discusses the challenges facing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) as it moves from its traditional regulatory approach, to a risk-informed, performance-based approach. GAO found that (1) NRC's implementation of a risk-informed approach for commercial nuclear power plants is a complex, multiyear undertaking that requires basic changes to the regulations and processes it uses to ensure the safe operation of these plants, (2) NRC needs to overcome a number of inherent difficulties as it seeks to apply a risk-informed regulatory approach to the nuclear material licensees, particularly in light of the large number of licensees and the diversity of activities they conduct, (3) NRC will have to demonstrate that it is meeting its mandate (under the Government Performance and Results Act) of increasing public confidence in NRC as an effective regulator, and (4) NRC faces challenges in human capital management, such as replacing a large percentage of its technical staff and senior managers who are eligible to retire. NRC has developed a 5-year plan to identify and maintain the core competencies it needs and has identified legislative options to help resolve its aging staff issue. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T.pdf GAO-01-707T https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-707T Testimony GAO-01-707T; Nuclear Regulation: Challenges Confronting NRC In a Changing Regulatory Environment; Independent regulatory commissions Nuclear powerplant safety Performance measures Personnel management Risk management Strategic planning