Placing Resident Inspectors at Nuclear Powerplant Sites: Is It Working?

The nuclear industry and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have complementary responsibilities in assuring the safe operation of commercial nuclear powerplants. In the past, regional (NRC) inspectors traveled from five offices to inspect nuclear reactor sites and other facilities. About 25 percent of the regional inspector's time was spent onsite, and the balance of the time was spent in regional offices preparing for and evaluating inspections. In June, 1974, a 2-year trial program was begun in which inspectors were assigned to locations at or near nuclear power reactor sites. The program involved assigning two NRC inspectors to locations from which they could inspect a total of four reactor sites.