ML25337A380
| ML25337A380 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/09/2025 |
| From: | Philip Mckenna NRC/NRR/DRO |
| To: | Dan Collins, Jack Giessner, Jeremy Groom, Julio Lara, John Monninger, Kevin Williams Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, Region 1 Administrator, Region 2 Administrator, Region 3 Administrator, Region 4 Administrator, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML25337A380 (0) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 MEMORANDUM TO:
Jeremy R. Groom, Acting Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Kevin Williams, Acting Director Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response Daniel S. Collins, Acting Regional Administrator Region I Julio F. Lara, Acting Regional Administrator Region II John B. Giessner, Regional Administrator Region III John D. Monninger, Regional Administrator Region IV FROM:
Philip J. McKenna, Acting Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS INSPECTION SCHEDULING GUIDANCE WHILE THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE REVISED BASELINE INSPECTION PROGRAM IS BEING EVALUATED BY THE COMMISSION This memorandum provides guidance on scheduling and conducting Calendar Year 2026 team, specialist, and resident inspector inspection activities at operating reactor sites while the recommendation for a revised Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Baseline Inspection Program is being evaluated by the Commission in SECY-25-00XX, Recommendations to Revise the Reactor Oversight Process Baseline Inspection Program.
CONTACT:
Heather Jones, NRR/DRO/IRIB 301-415-4054 December 9, 2025 Signed by McKenna, Philip on 12/09/25
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This guidance maintains the current ROP in place but adjusts scheduling consistent with Section 507 of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024 (ADVANCE Act) and Executive Order (EO) 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It will also allow completion of the 2026 ROP if the Commission decision is delayed or if different direction is provided by the Commission in their evaluation of SECY-25-00XX.
ROP Baseline Inspection Program With some limited exceptions, resident inspectors should complete ROP inspection activities using currently approved inspection procedures (IPs) at the minimum sample size. The limited exceptions include IP 71111.06, Flood Protection Measures; IP 71111.07, Heat Exchanger/Sink Performance; IP 71111.12, Maintenance Effectiveness; and IP 71111.18, Plant Modifications. These IPs are recommended to be sunset as part of the recommendation to revise the ROP baseline inspection program. These IPs will be completed in the second half of 2026 if the baseline inspection program is not revised.
Problem Identification and Resolution Team Inspection Program All scheduled biennial problem identification and resolution (PI&R) team inspections should be deferred for the first half of the calendar year 2026. If the PI&R team inspection is not approved to move into inspection manual chapter (IMC) 2515, Light Water Reactor Inspection Program Operations Phase, Appendix C, Special and Infrequently Performed Inspections, the biennial PI&R team inspections should be rescheduled and conducted after July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 using the currently approved IP 71152, Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R).
Engineering Inspection Program All engineering inspection activities planned in calendar year 2026 should be completed as scheduled using the currently approved engineering inspection procedures. For licensees that have a Comprehensive Engineering Team Inspection (CETI) scheduled, the Regions should reduce the inspection team to three regional inspectors and one resident inspector and complete as many inspection samples as possible with a goal of completing the minimum inspection effort. If the minimum CETI inspection sample size is not met at a site and the current engineering inspection is not revised any remaining CETI engineering inspection samples to meet minimum will be accomplished by regional inspectors or resident inspectors in the second half of Calendar Year 2026.
Security Inspection Program Evaluate inspections scheduled for the first quarter of 2026 and if possible, consider rescheduling inspections for the second quarter or later. If resources, operations, or other needs are identified, perform the inspection as scheduled in the first quarter. Each inspection performed in 2026 with the existing inspection procedures will be credited for the corresponding revised inspection procedure if the new baseline inspection program is implemented. For IP 71130.10, Cybersecurity, it has been recommended that this IP shift from a 2-year cycle to a 3-year cycle in the revised Baseline Inspection Program and updated scheduling should reflect that. Scheduling will revert back to a 2-year cycle if the baseline inspection program is not revised.
Emergency Preparedness Inspection Program Emergency preparedness (EP) IPs should be implemented as scheduled and written. If desired, Regions may defer IP 71114.06, Drill Evaluation, until after July 1, 2026. If the
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baseline inspection program is not revised, resident inspectors will complete the required IP 71114.06 inspection samples during the 2nd half of Calendar Year 2026.
Radiation Protection Inspection Program Radiation protection (RP) IPs should be implemented as scheduled and written, with the following additional guidance:
Prioritize completion of IP 71124.01, Radiological Hazard Assessment and Exposure Controls, during refueling outages.
For the following two IPs, during inspection preparation, if a risk-informed inspection sample is not available for inspection, that inspection requirement should be marked complete per Section 06.08 paragraph f.3 of IMC 0306, Planning, Scheduling, Tracking and Reporting of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) and the scope and duration of the inspection is to be reduced commensurately:
o IP 71124.04, Occupational Dose Assessment sections 03.03, and 03.04 o
IP 71124.06, Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment section 03.04 If desired, the following three IPs can be performed remotely:
o IP 71124.04, Occupational Dose Assessment sections 03.01, 03.03, and 03.04 o
IP 71124.06, Radioactive Gaseous and Liquid Effluent Treatment Occupational sections 03.02, 03.03, and 03.04 o
IP 71124.07, Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program sections 03.02, and 03.03 For IP 71124.08, Radioactive Solid Waste Processing and Radioactive Material Handling, Storage, and Transportation Requirement section 03.04, if an inspection sample is not available for assessment during the inspection, then the requirement shall be marked complete per IMC 0306, Section 06.08 paragraph f.4.
Regions are encouraged to begin revising current team and individual inspections in accordance with this memorandum. The Division of Reactor Oversight (DRO) anticipates that additional inspection and scheduling guidance will be issued by April 1, 2026, or as soon as the Commission issues an SRM on SECY-25-XXXX.
ML25337A380 NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DRO/IRIB NRR/DRO NAME HJones PMcKenna DATE 12/3/2025 12/9/2025