Case Study
Automating Federal Register Notices to Improve Citizen Insight into the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Posture
Introduction
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a federal agency responsible for regulating nuclear power plants and other civilian uses of nuclear materials. A key aspect of their operation requires the development and publication of Federal Register Notices, which communicate crucial regulatory and policy information to the public and industry stakeholders. Traditionally, the creation of these notices involved a labor-intensive process using Microsoft Word templates, which required extensive manual editing and a complex approval process via email. This method lacked efficiency and a robust mechanism for tracking and managing the documents throughout their lifecycle.
The Challenge
The NRC faced significant administrative challenges with their existing process for creating Federal Register Notices. The process was predominantly manual, relying on static Word templates that had to be individually edited and routed through a cumbersome series of approvals by email. There was no effective system in place for tracking the progress of these documents or maintaining records once they were published. This not only slowed down the process, causing delays in communication and increased workload, but also increased the risk of errors and inconsistencies in the notices.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Northramp rapidly developed for NRC a new system based on its ‘Solution Pattern Architecture’ (SPARCH) framework designed to streamline the creation, management, and publication of Federal Register Notices. The solution introduced a comprehensive application that guides users through a series of steps to select and customize templates based on the type of notice and required actions. The system was equipped with several key features to enhance usability and efficiency:
Template Selection and Customization
Template Types: Users can choose from a variety of notice types such as Licensing, Policy, Environmental, Statutory, Guidance, Communications, and Others.
Action Statements: Customization options were further enhanced with choices including Request for Comment, Correction, Withdrawal, Extension of Comment Period, and Reopening of Comment Period.
Dynamic Template Building: The system dynamically adjusts the template based on user selections, providing relevant fields and guidance for completion.
User Interface (UI)
Guided Questions: A series of pre-defined questions help determine the most appropriate template structure for the notice.
Editable Fields: Users can input specific data into designated fields such as docket ID, title, dates, addresses, and contact information.
Guidance: Embedded help and guidance in each section assists users in accurately completing the templates.
Document Management
Export to Word: Completed templates can be exported to Word, with functionality to restrict edits to certain sections.
Save and Versioning: The system allows users to save their work under "My FRNs," enabling them to manage different versions of documents.
Settings and Configuration
Customizable Components: Users can update headers, agency information, and other fixed text through a settings area, tailoring the templates to specific needs.
Outcomes
The implementation of this new system had substantial positive impacts on the NRC's operations and its stakeholders. The streamlined process significantly reduced the time and effort required to produce and manage Federal Register Notices, leading to cost savings and quicker dissemination of information. This improvement not only enhanced the efficiency of internal operations at the NRC but also ensured that citizens and industry stakeholders received timely and accurate information about nuclear regulatory activities, contributing to greater transparency and trust in the regulatory process.