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Our Plans, Budget, and Performance

The NRC uses an integrated process to plan, budget, and assess its performance. Three principal publications document this process:

• Strategic Plan (NUREG-1614)
• Performance Budget (NUREG-1100)
• Performance and Accountability Report (NUREG-1542)

On this page:

• Strategic Planning
• The Budget
• The Performance and Accountability Report
• Other Assessments
• NRC’s Inspector General Audits
• General Accounting Office Audits
• Related Information

Strategic Planning

The NRC's Strategic Plan (NUREG-1614, Vol. 3), describes how the agency intends to accomplish its mission and establishes the Commission's strategic direction by defining the vision, goals, and outcomes it intends to pursue. In particular, the Strategic Plan focuses on the goals of safety, security, openness, effectiveness, and management, which together support the Agency's ability to maintain the public health, safety, and trust. Success in achieving each goal in the Strategic Plan will be gauged primarily through performance measures that have been developed for the Agency's annual Performance Budget and will be reported in the annual Performance and Accountability Report. The Agency's FY 2004-2009 Strategic Plan was released in August 2004.

The Budget

Each year, the NRC publishes its Performance Budget (NUREG-1100). This publication describes the agency's programs in the performance plan and the budget estimates for these program activities and the distribution of the budget ($670.3 million, FY 2005 Request) and NRC staff (3,109 full-time equivalents, FY 2005 Request) by strategic arena. The performance plan also includes goals and measures that gauge the agency's success in accomplishing its mission. The NRC sends its budget request to the President who submits it to Congress for authorization. A large percentage of the NRC's authorized budget is defrayed by the collection of License Fees as required by law.

The Performance and Accountability Report

For each fiscal year, NRC evaluates its own performance against the previous year’s Performance Budget (NUREG-1100). The Performance and Accountability Report (NUREG-1542) presents, a comprehensive and integrated picture of the agency's performance for a specific fiscal year. This report includes—

• the NRC's audited financial statements
• the results of an evaluation of management controls
• a report on the agency's success in achieving its strategic and performance goals
• the results of any significant assessments of program activities that were carried out during the reporting period
• the NRC Inspector General’s most serious management challenges facing the agency and how the NRC is addressing them

Other Assessments

Certain aspects of NRC’s performance also receives independent assessment by the Inspector General (IG) and the General Accounting Office (GAO).

The NRC's Inspector General (OIG) independently and objectively conducts and supervises financial and performance audits and conducts criminal, civil, and administrative investigations. Performance audits focus on NRC administrative and program operations. Financial audits review NRC's internal control systems, transaction processing, financial systems, and contracts. The OIG also assists the agency by assessing and reporting on the NRC's efforts to ensure its safety-related programs are operating in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) is the investigative arm of Congress. GAO exists to support the Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities and to help improve the performance and accountability of the federal government for the American people. GAO examines the use of public funds, evaluates Federal programs and activities, and provides and funding decisions.

Related Information

• Distribution of the Budget and the Staff
• License Fee Program
• Inspector General Activities
• General Accounting Office
• Privacy Impact Assessments

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Last revised Thursday, August 12, 2004