ML19064B142
| ML19064B142 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/05/2019 |
| From: | De Messieres C NRC/NRR/DRA |
| To: | Craig Erlanger, Mike Franovich Division of Operating Reactor Licensing, NRC/NRR/DRA |
| References | |
| Download: ML19064B142 (3) | |
Text
March 5, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO:
Craig G. Erlanger, Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Michael X. Franovich, Director Division of Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Candace de Messieres, Reliability and Risk Analyst /RA/
Probabilistic Risk Assessment Licensing Branch A Division of Risk Assessment Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF PARTICIPATION IN A WORKSHOP ON LESSONS-LEARNED FROM RISK-INFORMED LICENSING INITIATIVES This memorandum summarizes U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff participation in a two-day workshop on lessons-learned from risk-informed (RI) licensing initiatives. The workshop was held January 30-31, 2019, at the Nuclear Energy Institute headquarters in Washington, DC, and was attended by representatives from numerous utilities and industry stakeholder groups as well as a diverse set of NRC staff from the Offices of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nuclear Regulatory Research, and the NRC Regions. The NRC staff presented on lessons-learned from performing licensing reviews to adopt RI initiatives including RI categorization and treatment of structures, systems and components under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50.69 (10 CFR 50.69) and RI technical specifications completion times (technical specifications task force (TSTF) traveler TSTF-505 or TS Initiative 4b). The NRC staff also presented on best-practice communication and workload planning strategies and on history and experience with inspecting RI initiatives.
The workshop provided a platform for NRC staff to communicate strategies for ensuring effective and efficient RI licensing reviews and to learn about licensee challenges and best-practices in preparing and implementing risk initiatives. Specific licensing review topics discussed by NRC staff included: review scope and depth, importance of initial and continued industry-wide coordination in preparation of licensing submittals; probabilistic risk assessment acceptability; NRC use of the acceptance review process; identification and dispositioning of key assumptions and sources of uncertainty; treatment of external hazards; the assessment of generic or common issues; conformance with accepted templates and approaches; and CONTACT: Candace De Messieres, NRR/DRA 301-415-8395
C. Erlanger communication best-practices. Specific inspection and oversight topics discussed by NRC staff included: key principles governing oversight of RI initiatives; current inspection guidance for RI initiatives such as the technical specifications surveillance frequency control program, TSTF-505 and TS Initiative 4b, and 10 CFR 50.69; current NRC actions to ensure a smooth transition from licensing to oversight for licensees approved for RI initiatives, insights from initial inspections of 10 CFR 50.69, and the process to make revisions to the inspection program. The NRC staff also learned about licensee challenges and best-practices in preparing and implementing risk initiatives. Specifically, several industry-wide and licensee-specific activities to ensure high-quality RI applications were discussed as well as a review of approaches and experience associated with implementation of RI initiatives. The workshop also featured a joint session on communication and workload planning which included open-dialogue on NRC and industry plans and expectations to ensure efficient and effective licensing reviews.
The NRC staff considered the workshop to be a tremendous success that will help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of licensing reviews and the oversight of RI initiatives. This workshop helped advance NRR and agencywide efforts to increase the use of RI decisionmaking through enhancing the communication of RI activities. This workshop supported a foundation for the continued advancement of NRC and industry RI initiatives and for enhanced awareness of RI decisionmaking activities and opportunities amongst NRC staff and external stakeholders.
The enclosures to this memorandum provide workshop presentations by NRC staff and a high-level workshop agenda. Specifically, Enclosure 1 provides presentations on lessons-learned from 10 CFR 50.69 licensing reviews; Enclosure 2 provides a presentation on lessons-learned from initial TSTF-505 and TS Initiative 4b licensing reviews; Enclosure 3 provides a NRC presentation on workload planning and communications; Enclosure 4 provides NRC presentations on inspection of RI initiatives; and Enclosure 5 provides a workshop agenda.
As additional RI licensing applications are received by the NRC and licensing lessons-learned and best-practices are further developed, the NRC staff plans to maintain open communication with industry and other external stakeholders towards increased efficiency and improved effectiveness. The staff also plans to continue to take advantage of opportunities to learn and observe the implementation of RI informed initiatives to enhance and inform licensing and oversight processes.
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Presentations on Lessons Learned from 10 CFR 50.69 Licensing Reviews
- 2. NRC Presentations on Lessons Learned from Initial TSTF-505 and TS Initiative 4b Licensing Reviews
- 3. NRC Presentation on Workload Planning and Communications
- 4. NRC Presentations on Inspection of Risk-Informed Initiatives
- 5. Workshop Agenda
C. Erlanger
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF PARTICIPATION IN A WORKSHOP ON LESSONS-LEARNED FROM RISK-INFORMED LICENSING INITIATIVES DATED: 3/04/2019 DISTRIBUTION:
PUBLIC RidsNrrDorl Resource RidsNrrDra Resource GSuber, NRR EMiller, NRR ADAMS Package No.: ML19064B168 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DRA/APLA NRR/DRA/APLA: BC (A)
NAME CDeMessieres MWentzel DATE 3/05/2019 3/05/2019 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY