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Nuclear Regulatory Commission Seeks Comment on Draft Strategic Plan

August 1, 2007

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comments on its draft strategic plan, covering fiscal years 2007 to 2012, that describes what the NRC intends to do over the next five years to protect people and the environment.

The draft plan describes how the NRC will seek to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials and nuclear power, officials said on Aug. 8. Some of the more significant challenges facing the agency over the next several years include the expected receipt of applications to construct and operate new nuclear power plants and a high-level nuclear waste facility. The draft strategic plan also addresses how the NRC will meet these challenges.

Safety and security continue to be the agency's top strategic goals, and strategies to meet those goals are described in the draft plan, officials said. For example, greater emphasis is being placed on improving regulatory processes for ensuring the safety of new power reactors while reflecting the agency's continuing priority to ensure that existing reactors continue to operate safely.

By Sept. 7, all comments should be submitted to the NRC electronically at: STRATPLAN@NRC.GOV; by mail to: Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Mail Stop T6-D59, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; or faxed to: Chief, Rules and Directives Branch at (301) 415-5144.

The draft strategic plan is available at http://www.nrc.gov.