Dear Licensee,

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued the DRAFT SAFETY CULTURE POLICY STATEMENT AND NOTICE OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WORKSHOPS (FSME-09-095). The draft policy statement indicates that a strong safety culture is an essential element for individuals that perform or oversee regulated activities. Safety culture includes nuclear safety and security issues. Licensees bear the primary responsibility for safely handling radioactive material and should foster a positive safety culture in their organizations and among individuals overseeing or performing regulated activities.

The NRC will be hosting a series of public workshops to develop a definition of safety culture and safety culture terminology. A separate Federal Register notice that describes this effort and requests names of individuals to participate at the public meeting(s) in a roundtable discussion of the issues will be published shortly. The first public workshop will be scheduled for late January or early February 2010. The second public workshop is scheduled for April 13-15, 2010. Licensees are welcome to participate in these upcoming workshops. Additional information on these meetings will be available through the NRC website at www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm and http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/safety-culture.html.

Enclosure 1 - NRC Safety Culture Summary

Enclosure 2 - NRC Draft Safety Culture Summary Policy Statement

This notice requires no specific action or written response. If you have any questions, please contact our office at (217) 785-9947.