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

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Date Issued

Monday, June 30, 2025

Submitting OIG

Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Report Number

OIG-NRC-25-A-09

Report 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.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use	Additional Details
3.1	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: On February 26, 2026, the staff updated the WBL User Guide to incorporate instructions for the Export/Import and the Sealed Sources & Devices (SS&D) modules. Instructions for the remaining modules (e.g., Storage and Transportation Information Management System/Fuel Facilities Information Management System (STIMS/FFIMS), Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs (DUWP), General License Tracking System (GLTS)) are currently being developed for inclusion in the next WBL User Guide update, which will be issued by the target completion date. Target Completion Date: September 1, 2026 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL User Guide incorporates guidance on how to use the new modules added to the WBL System and describes how to use the new enhancements to the system. This recommendation remains open and resolved. Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: The WBL User Guide will be updated to include workflows and feature-specific instructions for newly added and enhanced system modules (e.g., STIMS/FFIMS, DUWP, GLTS, Export/Import). Points of contact (POCs) for each module will provide the input needed to ensure the guide is both comprehensive and accurate. Target Completion Date: July 1, 2026 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL User Guide incorporates guidance on how to use the new modules added to the WBL System and describes how to use new enhancements to the system. This recommendation remains open and resolved.
The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update the Web-Based Licensing System User Guide to incorporate guidance on how to use the new modules added to the WBL System, and describe how to use new enhancements to the system.
4.1	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: A draft WBL Change Control Procedure was posted to the WBL SharePoint site in September 2025. The staff is finalizing the draft procedure based on operational experience and will issue a memorandum to the WBL stakeholder groups by the target completion date. Users will be notified through periodic communications to ensure awareness of the updated process and other relevant information. Target Completion Date: May 29, 2026 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL System Change Control Procedure and related information sources have been updated to reflect the current process accurately and that WBL users have been informed of the updated process. This recommendation remains open and resolved. Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: An updated WBL Change Control Procedure is currently under development and will reflect the current process for managing system changes. Once finalized, the updated procedure will be shared with users and posted to the WBL SharePoint site. Users will be notified through periodic communications to ensure awareness of the updated process and other relevant information. Target Completion Date: December 31, 2025 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL System Change Control Procedure and related information sources have been updated to reflect the current process accurately and that WBL users have been informed of the updated process. This recommendation remains open and resolved.
The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update the Web-Based Licensing System Change Control Procedure and related information resources to accurately reflect the current process and issue a memo to WBL users informing them of the updated process.
4.2	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated March 13, 2026: Module POCs have been identified, and their roles were included and clarified in the draft WBL Change Control Procedure and on the WBL SharePoint site. Updated POC information will be included in the memorandum to the WBL stakeholder groups transmitting the final WBL change control procedure. This action will be completed by the target date. Target Completion Date: May 29, 2026 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after clarifying the role of a Web-Based Licensing System module point of contact and verifying that the proper module points of contact have been updated and the information has been made available to WBL System users. This recommendation remains open and resolved. Agency Response Dated August 13, 2025: Module POCs have been identified, and their roles will be reflected in the WBL Change Control Procedure and WBL SharePoint site. Updated POC information will also be communicated to the relevant NMSS and Regional divisions. Target Completion Date: December 31, 2025 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after clarifying the role of a Web-Based Licensing System module point of contact and verifying that the proper module points of contact have been updated and the information has been made available to WBL System users. This recommendation remains open and resolved.
The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations clarify the role of a Web-Based Licensing System module point of contact and update the points of contact list for the Web-Based Licensing System Change Control Procedure.
6.3	Yes	$0	$0	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 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL System guidance for each module has been updated to reflect the current data entry practices. This recommendation remains open and resolved. 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 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the WBL System guidance for each module has been updated to reflect the current data entry practices. 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.
7.1	Yes	$0	$0	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 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the agency has identified and implemented strategies to improve the search functionality of the WBL System. This recommendation remains open and resolved. 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 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after verifying that the agency has identified and implemented strategies to improve the search functionality of the WBL System. 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.
7.2	Yes	$0	$0	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 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after the search functionality has been updated for consistent use across the WBL System. This recommendation remains open and resolved. 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. Target Completion Date: December 31, 2026 OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will close the recommendation after the search functionality has been updated for consistent use across 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.