Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Congressional Hearings Transcript

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INPO expects that the NRC will review INPO programs and provide
appropriate regulatory credit. A Memorandum of Agreement has
been established with the NRC that covers key areas in which NRC
and INPO have mutual interests. This agreement establishes the
framework for cooperation and coordination, including the sharing
of information. For example, INPO provides the NRC information
on INPO programs and activities, including the following:
o copies of selected generic documents
o access to other pertinent information as described in
specific coordination plans
o periodic briefings
o observation of INPO field activities by NRC employees (with
agreement of the member)
INPO also coordinates its activities with the Department of
Energy (DOE) and has a Participation Agreement in place. In
addition, certain aspects of the Institute's International
Program are coordinated with the Department of State.
Additional details on INPO's interactions with outside
organizations and groups are provided in the attached
Institutional Plan.
INDUSTRY PROGRESS
The success of the Institute's programs can best be measured by
the progress of the industry. The programs explained previously
support the industry's efforts to improve performance in nuclear
plant safety and reliability. As the needs of the industry have
evolved, activities in each of the four cornerstone areas have
undergone refinement in scope and philosophy. As utilities
focused their attention on nuclear plant performance, the
Institute's goal was to make sure its programs and activities
provided the best possible support for these efforts.
Training
The importance of training in the nuclear industry cannot be
overemphasized. Training of all personnel employed in nuclear
plants has improved over the past several years; however, the
extent to which improved plant performance can be attributed to
upgraded training may not be fully evident for another few
years. The trainees in the training programs accredited today
will not be impacting plant performance until they graduate and
begin performing independently.
However, the results of increased training emphasis are already
beginning to be felt in the plants. Plant managers have stated
that they are seeing better performance in the plant as a result
of upgraded training, and there have been several instances of
undesirable plant events that were prevented as a direct result
of specific training that was provided. There is also an
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