Nuclear Safety Research and Development (NSR&D) Program

About Us

As part of its May 2011 re-organization, the Office of Health, Safety and Security (HSS) created the Nuclear Safety Research and Development (NSR&D) Program within the Office of Nuclear Safety to provide corporate-level leadership supporting nuclear safety research and development throughout the Department of Energy (DOE).

HSS's NSR&D Program collaborates with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and DOE Program Offices to (1) develop mechanisms for effectively sharing information on nuclear safety research and development activities and results, and (2) seek cost effective means to perform nuclear safety research and development that may have benefit DOE-wide and/or to multiple Program Offices. The NSR&D Program also solicits input from the Nuclear Safety and Security Council (chaired by Associate Deputy Secretary Melvin Williams with membership of senior management from each of the Program Offices).

NSR&D Program Manager: Joe Olencz (Acting)
NSR&D Project Manager: Chris Chaves

NSR&D Program Objectives:

• Establish an enduring Departmental commitment and capability to utilize NSR&D in preventing and reducing the hazards and risks posed by DOE/NNSA nuclear facilities;
• Foster a Departmental culture that embraces NSR&D as a standard business practice for effecting continuous improvement in nuclear facility safety consistent with Integrated Safety Management (ISM) principles;
• Optimize NSR&D resources in resolving existing and emerging nuclear facility safety concerns; and
• Implement the Department's commitments on NSR&D as contained in Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 2004-1, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations.

NSR&D Program Documents:

• NSR&D Program Operating Plan
• NSR&D Committee Charter, approved June 2012

For questions regarding the Nuclear Safety Research and Development Program or comments on how to improve our website, please contact Chris Chaves or send an email to nsrdprogram@hq.doe.gov.