Office of the Inspector General. Semiannual report, April 1, 1997--September 30, 1997

The following two sections highlight selected audits and investigations completed during this reporting period. More detailed summaries appear in subsequent sections of this report. (1) The NRC initiated a number of actions to address regulatory weaknesses. The OIG found that some of these actions may not produce a safety benefit commensurate with their cost. The OIG also found that meanings of several important regulatory terms are unclear to many NRC and licensee staff. The OIG believes a comprehensive, integrated plan could help focus agency resources on those issues with the most safety significance, and that a focus on plant safety will enhance the NRC`s credibility as an effective regulator. (2) Because of its wide-ranging potential impact, the OIG has been tracking the Year 2000 issue for some time. The OIG found that success of the NRC`s Year 2000 program could be enhanced. (3) In response to a memorandum from the NRC Chairman, the Acting Chief Financial Officer proposed an approach to developing an agency-wide, integrated financial management system. The OIG initiated an evaluation to identify and gain an understanding of the best practices for developing such a system, and recommended directions. The NRC sponsors a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) called the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses, which provides the NRC with long-term technical assistance and research related to the High-Level Waste program. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires that, prior to extending the contract for the FFRDC, sponsors conduct a comprehensive review of their use and need. The OIG found that the draft renewal justification assesses some, but not all, of the FAR considerations