ML18074A014
| ML18074A014 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/15/2018 |
| From: | Baker B NRC/OIG/AIGA |
| To: | Mccree V NRC/EDO |
| References | |
| OIG-15-A-06 | |
| Download: ML18074A014 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL March 15, 2018 MEMORANDUM TO: Victor M. McCree Executive Director for Operations FROM: Dr. Brett M. Baker /RA/
Assistant Inspector General for Audits
SUBJECT:
STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: AUDIT OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS (NRC) OVERSIGHT OF SPENT FUEL POOLS (OIG-15-A-06)
REFERENCE:
ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION (NRR), MEMORANDUM DATED February 21, 2018 Attached is the Office of the Inspector Generals (OIG) analysis and status of recommendations 1 and 3 as discussed in the agencys response dated February 21, 2018. Based on this response, recommendations 1 and 3 remain resolved.
Recommendations 2 and 4 were previously closed. Please provide an updated status of the resolved recommendations by October 31, 2018. If you have questions or concerns, please call me at (301) 415-5915, or Sherri Miotla, Team Leader, at (301) 415-5914.
Attachment:
As stated cc: R. Lewis, OEDO H. Rasouli, OEDO J. Jolicoeur, OEDO J. Bowen, OEDO EDO_ACS Distribution Resource
Audit Report AUDIT OF NRCS OVERSIGHT OF SPENT FUEL POOLS OIG-15-A-06 Status of Recommendations Recommendation 1: Provide a generic regulatory solution for spent fuel pool criticality analysis by developing and issuing detailed licensee guidance along with the NRC internal procedures.
Agency Response Dated February 21, 2018: Planned Action: Upon a satisfactory conclusion to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) review of Nuclear Energy Institute report (NEI) 12-16, incorporate this detailed guidance into NRC internal processes through a regulatory guide (RG) and through revisions to NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants.
February 2018 Status Update: NEI 12-16, Guidance for Performing Criticality Analyses of Fuel Storage at Light Water Reactor Power Plants, references an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) methodology to determine the bias and uncertainty for the simulated depletion of the fuel. During a telephone call on January 25, 2018, EPRI indicated that their staff expects to complete their quality assurance work in March 2018. When this work is complete, NEI 12-16 can be finalized, and the NRC staff will complete the draft RG endorsing NEI 12-16. Given industrys schedule, NRC staff is planning to issue the draft RG for public comment in late 2018 and publish the final RG in mid-2019.
CONTACT: Kent A. Wood, NRR/DSS (301) 415-4120 OIG Analysis: The actions proposed by the agency meet the intent of the recommendation. This recommendation will be closed upon NRRs issuance of the final regulatory guide and revisions to NUREG-0800 that identify a generic regulatory solution for spent fuel pool criticality analysis and provide detailed licensee guidance along with NRC internal procedures.
Status: Resolved.
Audit Report AUDIT OF NRCS OVERSIGHT OF SPENT FUEL POOLS OIG-15-A-06 Status of Recommendations Recommendation 3: Develop an enforceable neutron-absorbing material aging management program.
Agency Response Dated February 21, 2018: Planned Action: Use the generic letter (GL) process to collect information and determine which regulatory actions are necessary to ensure compliance with NRC requirements regarding the monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools and then initiate the appropriate regulatory actions.
On April 7, 2016, the agency issued the (GL) requesting information on monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools. All licensees have submitted responses to the GL. The NRC staff has completed its preliminary evaluation of licensee responses and closed out the GL for 28 sites (51 units). The staff is currently processing additional closeout letters, as well as waiting for a number of responses to requests for additional information necessary to close out the remaining licensee responses. The staff expects to complete closeout of the GL for all licensees and assess any subsequent appropriate regulatory actions by September 2018.
CONTACT: Scott Krepel, NRR/DSS (301) 302-0399 OIG Analysis: The actions proposed by the agency meet the intent of the recommendation. This recommendation will be closed when NRR closes out the GL for all sites and develops an enforceable neutron-absorbing material aging management program based on its evaluation of the GL responses from licensees.
Status: Resolved.