Energia i regulacje · 21.08.2002

Enforcement Program and Alternative Dispute Resolution; Request for Comments and Announcement of Pubic Meetings

On December 14, 2001 (66 FR 64890), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced its intent to evaluate the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the NRC's enforcement program, which is defined in the NUREG-1600, "General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions (Enforcement Policy). The NRC is undergoing this evaluation because government-wide, ADR techniques have proven to be efficient and effective in resolving a wide range of disputes. On March 12, 2002, the staff conducted an ADR workshop to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses associated with its use in the enforcement area. The staff has evaluated the outcome of this workshop and concluded that: (1) There may be a role for ADR in the enforcement program; however, further review is needed, (2) if ADR has a role, the NRC should focus on areas resulting in the largest benefits, (3) a pilot program should be the first step to implementation, and (4) additional stakeholder input is needed. The staff concluded that in order to make any final recommendations for incorporation into the enforcement program or the development of a pilot program, additional stakeholder input is necessary. As a result