The NRC has succeeded over the last few years in its effort to tie research activities it undertakes to near-term issues being confronted by the NRC line organizations (NRO, NRR, NMSS, NSIR, and FSME). Two-thirds of research activities support specific needs of these offices. One-third are mandated programs such as the Accident Sequence Precursor (ASP) program. A small portion of the research budget focuses on long-term research subjects expected...