Note: The Commissioners were briefed by NRC staff and stakeholders on regional programs
-Source NRC –
Good morning. For the first time in recent years, the NRC’s four regional administrators will together brief the Commission on the status and plans for the programs under their supervision.
This meeting had originally been scheduled to take place in February, but the closure of the federal government during the snowstorms required us to postpone the briefing. I am glad that we have been able to reschedule it because there are some potential policy matters for us to discuss today related to the implementation of inspections programs and human capital issues.
The agency can’t meet its mission unless the regional offices are working efficiently and effectively. The four regions simply play too important a role in too many different regulatory areas. We could not even conduct basic inspection and oversight without the regional staff identifying and resolving issues on site at plants and facilities. It’s critical that the regions have a skilled, experienced staff and the necessary financial resources to meet their vital responsibilities. I am confident that is true today of all the regions.
We should not forget that the regional staff is the face of the agency to many of our stakeholders and much of the public. That is why it is so important that the headquarters and the regional staffs work collaboratively to make our outreach and communications efforts as effective as possible. The agency can’t continue to meet its historic commitment to openness and transparency unless we do so. I look forward to discussing this and the other issues on our agenda this morning.