united states nuclear regulatory commission perspectives on technical support organizations iaea...
DESCRIPTION
Issues Facing TSOs3 Background The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define standards for all of its work, including its research program. The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define standards for all of its work, including its research program. –Independence –Openness –Efficiency –Clarity –ReliabilityTRANSCRIPT
United States Nuclear Regulatory United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Perspectives on Commission Perspectives on
Technical Support OrganizationsTechnical Support OrganizationsIAEA Meeting on TSO ChallengesIAEA Meeting on TSO Challenges
Aix-en-Provence, FranceAix-en-Provence, FranceApril 26, 2007April 26, 2007
Mark Cunningham, DirectorMark Cunningham, DirectorDivision of Fuels, Engineering, and Radiological ResearchDivision of Fuels, Engineering, and Radiological Research
Office of Nuclear Regulatory ResearchOffice of Nuclear Regulatory Research
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 22
BackgroundBackground
The NRC makes use of a variety of technical support The NRC makes use of a variety of technical support organizationsorganizations
The Energy Reorganization Act of 1975 establishes the The Energy Reorganization Act of 1975 establishes the fundamental role of a within-regulatory-agency TSO – fundamental role of a within-regulatory-agency TSO – the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research – for:the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research – for:– ““developing recommendations deemed necessary developing recommendations deemed necessary
for performance of its licensing and related for performance of its licensing and related regulatory functions,” andregulatory functions,” and
– ““engaging in research necessary for the engaging in research necessary for the performance of its licensing and related regulatory performance of its licensing and related regulatory functions.”functions.”
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 33
BackgroundBackground
The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define standards for all of its work, including its research standards for all of its work, including its research program.program.– IndependenceIndependence– OpennessOpenness– EfficiencyEfficiency– ClarityClarity– ReliabilityReliability
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 44
The Functions of NRC’sThe Functions of NRC’sOffice of Nuclear Regulatory Office of Nuclear Regulatory
ResearchResearch Confirming the technical basis for regulatory decisionsConfirming the technical basis for regulatory decisions Assessing technical issuesAssessing technical issues Developing methods and toolsDeveloping methods and tools Looking for emerging technologies and issuesLooking for emerging technologies and issues Translating technical information into regulatory Translating technical information into regulatory
guidanceguidance
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 55
Confirming the Technical BasisConfirming the Technical Basis
fire barrier performancefire barrier performance– Potential issues with Potential issues with
performance of performance of Thermo-Lag and other Thermo-Lag and other barrier systemsbarrier systems
– Confirmatory studiesConfirmatory studies HEMYC performanceHEMYC performance
Cable performanceCable performance– Potential for multi-Potential for multi-
conductor cable failures conductor cable failures in firesin fires
– Confirmatory studiesConfirmatory studies CAROLFIRE testsCAROLFIRE tests
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 66
Assessing Technical IssuesAssessing Technical Issues
Chemical effectsChemical effects– ACRS identified issueACRS identified issue
Potential chemical Potential chemical interactions interactions between between containment spray containment spray additives and additives and insulationinsulation
– NRC studiesNRC studies Chemical Chemical
interactionsinteractions Sump performanceSump performance Downstream effectsDownstream effects
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Developing Methods and ToolsDeveloping Methods and Tools
Human reliability analysis Human reliability analysis methods for radioactive methods for radioactive material usesmaterial uses– Job aidsJob aids– Training toolsTraining tools
SPAR modelsSPAR models– Significance Significance
determination processdetermination process– Generic safety issuesGeneric safety issues– License amendment License amendment
reviewsreviews– Incident investigationIncident investigation
Unsafe acts
Local workplace factors
Organizational & macro-ergonomic factors
InjuriesHazards
Defenses
Latentconditionpathways
Causes
Investigation
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Looking for Emerging IssuesLooking for Emerging Issues
Reactor operations beyond 60 yearsReactor operations beyond 60 years– Investigation of, and proactive response to, materials Investigation of, and proactive response to, materials
issues that could emerge after 60 yearsissues that could emerge after 60 years
2
Overall Objective
To identify components that may be expected to undergodegradation, so that mitigation actions may be implemented before
significant challenges to structural integrity and safety arise.
“Dam
age
”
Time
NDE Resolution Limit
“Now”
Reactive Proactiveactions
Structural Integrity Limit
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Developing Regulatory GuidanceDeveloping Regulatory Guidance
Regulatory GuideRegulatory Guide– Translates technical Translates technical
information into one information into one acceptable approach for acceptable approach for meeting requirementsmeeting requirements
Recent improvementsRecent improvements– Update of 29 guidesUpdate of 29 guides– Technical topics includeTechnical topics include
Site-specific seismic Site-specific seismic ground motionground motion
Environmental Environmental qualification of I&C qualification of I&C systemssystems
Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 1010
SummarySummary
The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research was The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research was established to provide a within-NRC capability forestablished to provide a within-NRC capability for– Independent technical insightIndependent technical insight– Issue assessmentIssue assessment– Method and tool developmentMethod and tool development– Future issue identificationFuture issue identification– Regulatory guidance promulgationRegulatory guidance promulgation
End of PresentationEnd of Presentation
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