Audit of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Oversight of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments

Agency Response Dated September 12, 2024: Completed. As part of our initial effort, we engaged the Regions and NMSS and concluded that our existing policies were sufficient. However, we determined that all of the information should be in one place. The staff evaluated all procedures and agency wide positions involving well logging activities and source abandonments and worked together to consolidate this information into one procedure (NMSS office procedure 70-16, “Procedures for Processing and Handling Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments,”<br />
(ML24239A769) to ensure consistency and streamline the approach to documentation and evaluation of alternate well<br />
logging source abandonments. The procedure was completed and is effective as of September 9, 2024.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed NMSS office procedure 70-16, “Procedures for Processing and Handling Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments” and determined that the guidance meets the intent of this recommendation.<br />
Closed.<br />
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Status: Open: Resolved. Ongoing. The staff collaborated with the Regions, reviewed the existing policy and agencywide positions related to well logging source abandonments and determined that they were sufficient. The staff evaluated updating Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) Office Procedure 70-09, “NMSS Processing of Technical Assistance Requests (non-public L17080A506),” and determined that it is more appropriate to include these references in the proposed new NMSS office procedure, titled “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.” Target date for completion: May 1, 2024.

Agency Response Dated September 12, 2024: Completed. The staff collaborated with the regions and Office of the General Counsel (OGC) to establish guidance included in a new NMSS office procedure, NMSS-70-16 titled “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.”<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed NMSS office procedure 70-16, “Procedures for Processing and Handling Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments” and determined that the guidance meets the intent of this recommendation.<br />
Status: Closed.<br />
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Status: Open: Resolved. Ongoing. The NMSS staff is collaborating with the regions to establish guidance to be included in a proposed new NMSS office procedure, titled “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.” Target date for completion: May 1, 2024.

Agency Response Dated September 12, 2024: Completed. The staff developed a new NMSS office procedure that includes guidance to support the analysis of exemption requests, NMSS-70-16, titled “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.”<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed NMSS office procedure 70-16, “Procedures for Processing and Handling Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments” and determined that the guidance meets the intent of this recommendation. Status: closed.<br />
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Status: Open: Resolved. Ongoing. The staff is developing a new NMSS office procedure, “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.” Target date for completion: May 1, 2024.

Agency Response Dated September 12, 2024: Completed. The staff developed a new NMSS office procedure to provide consistent guidance across all regions to clarify the processes and procedures for documenting abandonment notifications and licensee reports, and to ensure consistency and completeness for abandonment event documentation in ADAMS, NMSS-70-16, titled “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.” The staff also updated SA-300, “Handbook on Nuclear Material Event Reporting for the Agreement States” to formalize the guidance for Agreement States to submit written reports received from Agreement State licensees to the Nuclear Materials Events Database (NMED) dated August 23, 2024.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed NMSS office procedure 70-16, “Procedures for Processing and Handling Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments” and the updated SA-300, “Handbook on Nuclear Event Reporting for the Agreement States” and determined that both documents meet the intent of this recommendation.<br />
Status: Closed<br />
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Status: Open: Resolved. Ongoing. The staff is developing a new NMSS office procedure, “Procedures for Processing and Handling of Irretrievable Well Logging Source Abandonments.” The staff will also update SA-300, “Handbook on Nuclear Material Event Reporting for the Agreement States” is being updated to formalize the guidance for Agreement States to submit written reports received from Agreement State licensees to the Nuclear Materials Events Database (NMED). Target date for completion: May 1, 2024.