Emily Larson
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN REGULATION
Emily Larson Office of International Programs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
WHO WE ARE The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
Established the NRC to independently regulate commercial use of nuclear material, including nuclear power.
Other duties of the former Atomic Energy Commission were assigned to the Department of Energy. 2
OUR MISSION
3
THE NRC REGULATES: Radioactive materials for medical, industrial and academic use
Nuclear Materials
Radioactive Waste
Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Security
Commercial power reactors, research and test reactors and new reactor designs
Transportation, storage and disposal of nuclear material and waste, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities
Physical security, source security and cyber security 4
WHAT WE DON’T DO: Regulate nuclear weapons, military reactors or space vehicle reactors (These are regulated by other federal agencies.) Lobby for nuclear power (The nation’s nuclear agenda is set by the President and the Congress.)
Own or operate nuclear power plants
Regulate naturally occurring radon or X-rays (These are regulated by states or other federal agencies.) 5
HOW WE MEET OUR MISSION Safety: Prevent and mitigate accidents and ensure radiation safety
Management: Security: Maintain Ensure protection high-performing of nuclear facilities, workforce and ensure radioactive materials, access to key information, and classified while preserving the and safeguards security of sensitive information information
Openness: Effectiveness: Ensure regulatory Ensure regulatory processes encourage actions are transparency, efficient, timely, collaboration and practical and participation consistent 6
NRC’S EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS External stakeholders are agencies, groups, elected officials, the regulated community, and individual citizens outside the agency that have either an administrative or personal interest in the NRC or the nuclear industry the NRC regulates.
7
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The NRC places a high priority on keeping the public and stakeholders informed of its activities. At www.nrc.gov, you can: • •
•
•
Find public meeting dates and transcripts; Read NRC testimony, speeches, press releases and policy decisions; Access the agency’s Electronic Reading Room to find NRC publications and documents; and Connect with the NRC on social media sites. 8
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION VENUES
9
INVOLVING THE PUBLIC • NRC Organizational Value of Openness • Formal Processes – Information Exchanges – Public Commenting – §2.206 Petitions – Annual end-of-cycle meetings at each power reactor facility – Adjudication process
10
PUBLIC MEETING CATEGORIES Category 1: The public is invited to observe these meetings and will have one or more opportunities to communicate with the NRC after the business portions, but before the meetings are adjourned. Category 2: The public is invited to participate in these meetings by discussing regulatory issues with the NRC at designated points identified on the agendas. Category 3: The public is invited to participate in these meetings by providing comments and asking questions throughout.
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PUBLIC MEETING OBJECTIVES • Ensure that members of the public have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the agency’s regulatory process • Ensure that all public meetings are noticed in a timely manner • Inform interested stakeholders about NRC’s meetings Primary Challenge: Balance openness against regulatory and safety responsibilities 12
INFORMATION GATHERING •From Early to After the Fact – New Rulemaking – Post-Event
• Townhall Meetings • Workshops •Meeting facilitation Primary challenge: Volume of comments received 13
RISK COMMUNICATION Recognize different risk paradigms (e.g., engineering, health, lay)
ADD PICTURE
• Long-term planning and coordinated communication efforts • Strategic partnerships • Collaborative problem solving • Consistent messages • Appropriate tools for both internal and external communication http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc- collections/nuregs/brochures/br0308/br0308.pdf
FINAL THOUGHTS • Public involvement in, and information about, a nuclear regulatory body’s activities is a cornerstone of strong, fair regulation of the nuclear industry • Regulators must build trust with their stakeholders to be effective • Acknowledge the public’s right to disagree 15
Emily Larson Office of International Programs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
WHO WE ARE The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
Established the NRC to independently regulate commercial use of nuclear material, including nuclear power.
Other duties of the former Atomic Energy Commission were assigned to the Department of Energy. 2
OUR MISSION
3
THE NRC REGULATES: Radioactive materials for medical, industrial and academic use
Nuclear Materials
Radioactive Waste
Nuclear Reactors
Nuclear Security
Commercial power reactors, research and test reactors and new reactor designs
Transportation, storage and disposal of nuclear material and waste, and decommissioning of nuclear facilities
Physical security, source security and cyber security 4
WHAT WE DON’T DO: Regulate nuclear weapons, military reactors or space vehicle reactors (These are regulated by other federal agencies.) Lobby for nuclear power (The nation’s nuclear agenda is set by the President and the Congress.)
Own or operate nuclear power plants
Regulate naturally occurring radon or X-rays (These are regulated by states or other federal agencies.) 5
HOW WE MEET OUR MISSION Safety: Prevent and mitigate accidents and ensure radiation safety
Management: Security: Maintain Ensure protection high-performing of nuclear facilities, workforce and ensure radioactive materials, access to key information, and classified while preserving the and safeguards security of sensitive information information
Openness: Effectiveness: Ensure regulatory Ensure regulatory processes encourage actions are transparency, efficient, timely, collaboration and practical and participation consistent 6
NRC’S EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS External stakeholders are agencies, groups, elected officials, the regulated community, and individual citizens outside the agency that have either an administrative or personal interest in the NRC or the nuclear industry the NRC regulates.
7
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC The NRC places a high priority on keeping the public and stakeholders informed of its activities. At www.nrc.gov, you can: • •
•
•
Find public meeting dates and transcripts; Read NRC testimony, speeches, press releases and policy decisions; Access the agency’s Electronic Reading Room to find NRC publications and documents; and Connect with the NRC on social media sites. 8
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION VENUES
9
INVOLVING THE PUBLIC • NRC Organizational Value of Openness • Formal Processes – Information Exchanges – Public Commenting – §2.206 Petitions – Annual end-of-cycle meetings at each power reactor facility – Adjudication process
10
PUBLIC MEETING CATEGORIES Category 1: The public is invited to observe these meetings and will have one or more opportunities to communicate with the NRC after the business portions, but before the meetings are adjourned. Category 2: The public is invited to participate in these meetings by discussing regulatory issues with the NRC at designated points identified on the agendas. Category 3: The public is invited to participate in these meetings by providing comments and asking questions throughout.
11
PUBLIC MEETING OBJECTIVES • Ensure that members of the public have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of the agency’s regulatory process • Ensure that all public meetings are noticed in a timely manner • Inform interested stakeholders about NRC’s meetings Primary Challenge: Balance openness against regulatory and safety responsibilities 12
INFORMATION GATHERING •From Early to After the Fact – New Rulemaking – Post-Event
• Townhall Meetings • Workshops •Meeting facilitation Primary challenge: Volume of comments received 13
RISK COMMUNICATION Recognize different risk paradigms (e.g., engineering, health, lay)
ADD PICTURE
• Long-term planning and coordinated communication efforts • Strategic partnerships • Collaborative problem solving • Consistent messages • Appropriate tools for both internal and external communication http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc- collections/nuregs/brochures/br0308/br0308.pdf
FINAL THOUGHTS • Public involvement in, and information about, a nuclear regulatory body’s activities is a cornerstone of strong, fair regulation of the nuclear industry • Regulators must build trust with their stakeholders to be effective • Acknowledge the public’s right to disagree 15
