NRC reorganization update: Changes will begin this summer

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is moving forward with its plans to reorganize around three core business lines: new reactors, operating reactors, and nuclear materials and waste. In order to do that, the agency will establish two new offices: the Office of Advanced Reactors (OAR) and the Office of the Chief Nuclear Reactor Inspector (CNRI).

Some of this information was introduced earlier this year when the NRC announced that a significant reorganization was underway to meet executive order requirements. For instance, the new OAR was unveiled back in March when the NRC tapped longtime employee Jeremy Bowen to head the office.

On Monday evening, the NRC updated its reorganization page on its website. Executive Director for Operations Mike King, meanwhile, provided additional details to Nuclear News on Monday. The agency aims to have the reorganization implemented by midsummer.

"We're structuring ourselves around [the three] to achieve those goals-faster, more predictable licensing while maintaining the safety of our existing technologies," King said.

The changes: As previously reported, OAR will license and oversee new reactors. CNRI will oversee operating reactors, including nonpower reactors like those used in research. CNRI's responsibilities will include the oversight of all reactor safety security inspections, operator licensing, vendor inspections, and support functions. King said CNRI will be the biggest office under the operating reactors business line.

One of the more notable changes within the reorganization is that the NRC's four regional offices will report to CNRI.

"That will help drive consistency and reliability of our implementation of the Reactor Oversight Process across all four regions," said King.

The already existing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation will focus more on licensing rather than oversight under the reorganization, King added.

Other changes include the following:

• Aligning materials licensing and inspection staff from NRC headquarters and regional offices under the Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards.
• Moving programmatic functions of Nuclear Security and Incident Response under the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
• Moving technical training programs from the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer to the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.

Impact on recruitment and retention: The clarity of the reorganization plan should help the NRC with the recruitment and retention of employees, said King.

"Now that we have final visibility into what the final footprint looks like-and the public should see this very soon-we're starting to post some opportunities for external postings for executives and for supervisors and for staff across the agency," he said. "This will be a welcome area for staff that were anxious for opportunities to get promoted. We think this is a real point of optimism for the staff and the agency looking ahead."