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Audit of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Web-Based Licensing System

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
OIG-NRC-25-A-09
Report Type
Audit
Description
The audit objective was to determine if the Web-Based Licensing (WBL) System effectively manages the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) materials licensing and inspection information and provides for the security, availability, and integrity of the system data.  The OIG found that the WBL System’s inactivity controls interrupt users’ work processes; WBL users are unable to edit role-based licensing information in the Export/Import and Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs modules; the WBL User Guide lacks quality information for using certain WBL modules; WBL users are generally unfamiliar with the change control process; several WBL enhancements do not work as intended; the licensing and inspection modules do not contain quality data; and, WBL System data is not readily available for the agency to use in other applications. The report contains 15 recommendations to increase the WBL System’s functionality, effectiveness, and users’ efficiency. 
Joint Report
No
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
View report on Oversight.gov

Recommendations

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations identify and automate the appropriate data entry areas within the Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs module to promote accurate, complete, and standardized data entry.

Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: In March 2025, the Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs transitioned its licensing and inspection activities from WBL to the Reactor Program System (RPS), prior to the completion of OIG’s audit. Therefore, the appropriate data entry areas were not automated. At this time, the DUWP module is used solely to create docket numbers for billing. The staff will evaluate automation of the data entry areas if DUWP licensing and inspection activities are transitioned back into this module in the future. The staff’s actions on this recommendation are complete.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG acknowledges that the DUWP’s licensing and inspection activities were transitioned to the RPS, and the WBL System will only be used to create docket numbers for billing, thereby negating the need to automate data entry areas. Therefore, this recommendation is closed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: Since March 2025, DUWP has been using the Reactor Program System to manage licensing and inspection activities. However, they still rely on WBL for managing docket information, billing, and accessing historical records. DUWP staff will review WBL as appropriate to identify any areas where data entry validations could improve accuracy, completeness, and consistency. Target Completion Date: July 1, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after verifying that the DUWP module has been updated to include automated data entry where appropriate, which<br />
would promote accurate, complete, and standardized data entry. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update existing inspection data entry guidance to include how to document assist inspections and general license inspections.

Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: The staff’s response dated August 13, 2025 (ML25209A087), stated that the inspection data entry guide would be updated to include instruction for documenting Assist inspections and General License inspections. It was later determined by the staff that this information is better suited for the WBL user guide, which offers step-by-step instructions for using WBL modules. Accordingly, the WBL user guide was updated on February 27, 2026, to include instructions for documenting Assist inspections and General License (other entity type) inspections. The staff’s actions on this recommendation are complete.<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG verified that the WBL User Guide was updated to include how to document assist inspections and general license inspections. Therefore, this recommendation is closed.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: The inspection data entry guide will be updated to include instructions for documenting Assist inspections and General License inspections. Target Completion Date: March 1, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after verifying that the data entry guidance includes how to document assist inspections and general license inspections.<br />
This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations review the existing guidance for each Web-Based Licensing System module and update it to reflect current data entry practices, as appropriate.

Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: Consistent with the staff’s response dated August 13, 2025 (ML25209A087), the staff is in the process of updating, as appropriate, the existing guidance for each WBL module to reflect current data entry practices. This effort is expected to be completed by the target date. Target Completion Date: September 1, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after verifying that the WBL System guidance for each module has been updated to reflect the current data entry<br />
practices. This recommendation remains open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: Existing data entry guidance for each WBL module will be reviewed and updated, as appropriate, to reflect current data entry practices. Target Completion Date: July 1, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation <br />
after verifying that the WBL System guidance for each module has been updated to reflect the current data entry<br />
practices. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations identify and implement strategies that improve the search functionality of the Web-Based Licensing System.

Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: Consistent with the staff’s response dated August 13, 2025 (ML25209A087), the staff continues to identify and implement strategies to improve the search functionality of WBL. This includes updating the WBL User Guide to include clear, step-by-step instructions for using the search features within the GLTS module (see Recommendation 3.1), providing training sessions and system demonstrations, targeted training, and assistance from the WBL Help Desk, and expanding the use of dashboards. This effort is expected to be completed by the revised target date. Target Completion Date: September 1, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after verifying that the agency has identified and implemented strategies to improve the search functionality<br />
of the WBL System. This recommendation remains open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: The primary issue affecting search functionality in WBL appears to be user unfamiliarity rather than functional limitations within the system. To address this, we plan to explore user support options such as quick-reference guides and/or targeted training to help users navigate and search more effectively before considering any changes to system functionality. For the General License Tracking System (GLTS) module specifically, a user guide will be developed (see Recommendation 3.1), which will include clear, step-by-step instructions for using the search feature. In addition, dashboards already provide streamlined access to commonly needed data through pre-built visuals and data export capabilities. These dashboards include license and inspection related data to help users obtain the information they need without having to perform complex searches. As these dashboards continue to expand, they are expected to reduce the need for users to run independent queries within the system. Target Completion Date: December 31, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after verifying that the agency has identified and implemented strategies to improve the search functionality<br />
of the WBL System. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update the Web-Based Licensing System to make the search functionality consistent across all the modules.

Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: The search functionality in WBL is consistent across all modules except for GLTS. The GLTS module currently requires the use of the % symbol as a wildcard, a feature originally requested during GLTS development. To improve usability and ensure consistency across modules, a change request has been created to remove the requirement for users to manually include the % wildcard when performing searches in the GLTS module. The change request is currently in the development queue and will be addressed in an upcoming WBL release. Other search enhancements will be considered as needed to further improve the user experience. This effort is expected to be completed by the revised target date. Target Completion Date: May 31, 2027<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after the search functionality has been updated for consistent use across the WBL System. This recommendation remains<br />
open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: The search functionality in WBL is consistent across all modules, including GLTS, with the exception that the GLTS module requires the use of the % symbol as a wildcard. This feature was originally requested during GLTS development. We will create a change request to remove the need for the % wildcard and prioritize other search enhancements as needed to improve the user experience.<br />
Target Completion Date: December 31, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation<br />
after the search functionality has been updated for consistent use across the WBL System. This recommendation remains<br />
open and resolved.