Although NRC’s strategies to achieve its safety- related performance outcomes seem clear and reasonable, we could not assess its performance for the three nonsafety performance goals because NRC only recently reported measures to achieve them in its fiscal year 2002 performance plan. However, since NRC has had limited experience in applying the strategies and measures for the three nonsafety goals, it may need to revise them after it completes various planned program evaluations. In its fiscal year 2001 performance plan, NRC established measures for the “maintain safety” performance goal only, saying that it would develop measures for the three nonsafety performance goals—increase public confidence; reduce unnecessary regulatory burden; and enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and realism of its activities and decisions—for the fiscal year 2002 plan. Therefore, we could not fully assess NRC's progress in meeting the three key outcomes. As NRC noted, its fiscal year 2000 performance report discussed data limitations related to the nuclear material safety key outcome.
Why GAO Did This Study

This report reviews the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) fiscal year 2000 performance report and fiscal year 2002 performance plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 to assess its progress in achieving selected key outcomes that are important mission areas for the agency.

What GAO Found

NRC reports mixed progress in achieving the three outcomes GAO reviewed. To measure performance for the three outcomes, NRC established the same four goals: one relates to safety and three relate to such nonsafety issues as public confidence, regulatory burden, and organizational enhancements. Although NRC's strategies for the safety-related performance goal outcomes seem clear and reasonable, GAO could not assess NRC's performance for the three nonsafety performance goals because NRC only recently developed and reported strategies for them in its fiscal year 2002 performance plan. Because NRC has had little experience in applying the strategies and measures for the three nonsafety goals, it may need to revise them after it completes various planned evaluations during the next three years.