ML18289A345
| ML18289A345 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/31/2018 |
| From: | Stanley Gardocki Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research |
| To: | |
| Meyd, Donald | |
| References | |
| NUREG/BR-478 R2 | |
| Download: ML18289A345 (2) | |
Text
Who can propose a Generic Issue?
Why should I propose a Generic Issue?
How do I propose a Generic Issue?
Where can I find the status of a Generic Issue?
Is a generic issue the same as a Generic Issue?
Anyone can propose a Generic Issue, including the general public and NRC staff.
The Generic Issues Program is an excellent way to initiate the review of a potential safety issue. All proposed Generic Issues receive a rigorous review using the procedure described in Management Directive 6.4.
The Web site for submitting a Generic Issue is on the public NRC Web site:
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/
gen-issues/gi-form.html. Alternatively, the public and the NRC staff can submit a letter or memorandum that describes the issue.
The Generic Issues Dashboard shows the status of active Generic Issues. The Dashboard is on the public NRC Web site:
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/gen-issues/dashboard.html.
In addition, once a Generic Issue reaches the Regulatory Office Implementation Stage, its status will appear in the semiannual report to Congress.
No. Although both refer to issues that affect more than one facility, a formal Generic Issue (formerly referred to as a Generic Safety Issue) is a technical issue that meets the seven criteria to enter the Generic Issues Program. In contrast, a generic issue has not been submitted to the Generic Issues program for review and may not meet all seven criteria.
Visit the Generic Issues Program Web site for more information on the program, the status of generic issues, and instructions for submitting an issue.
The Generic Issues Program Web page:
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/gen-issues.html Contact the Generic Issues Program staff program staff directly. Staff members are glad to assist with drafting a Generic Issue proposal or answering questions about the Generic Issues Program.
E-mail for contacting the Generic Issues Program staff:
GIP.Resource@nrc.gov Key Generic Issues Program documents:
- NUREG-0933, Resolution of Generic Safety Issues
- Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research - Office Instruction TEC-002, Procedures for Processing Generic Issues To report a safety or security concern:
1-800-695-7403 (NRC toll-free safety hotline)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission www.nrc.gov NUREG/BR-0478, Rev. 2 October 2018 Improving safety by addressing complex issues that could effect nuclear power plants
@NRCgov You Blog Blog
WHAT IS A GENERIC ISSUE?
WHAT IS A GENERIC ISSUE?
The Generic Issues Program addresses potential safety or security issues that do not clearly fit elsewhere at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Regulatory Guidance and Generic Issues Branch in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research manages this agency wide program. Mandated by Congress, the program has been in place since the 1970s. The staff describes the status of active Generic Issues in a semiannual report to Congress.
A Generic Issue is a regulatory matter that meets all of the following seven criteria:
Affects public health and safety Applies to two or more facilities Can have its risk or safety significance adequately determined or estimated Is well defined, discrete, and technical May involve review, analysis, or action by the licensee 1
2 3
4 5
6 7
Is not being addressed using other established regulatory programs or processes Can be resolved by regulation, policy, or guidance Resolution of a Generic Issue may lead to regulatory changes that enhance safety. Since 1983, more than 60 percent of Generic Issues that passed the screening phase resulted in new or revised regulatory products. These products include rules, NUREGs, generic communications, regulatory guides, standard review plans, staff reports, SECY papers, and NRC policy statements.
Resulting Regulatory Products Regulatory Guidance 18%
Generic Communication 17%
Policy and Rules 11%
Regulatory Guidance 5%
Generic Communication 10%
Policy and Rules 3%
No Regulatory Product 36%
Direct Regulatory Product 46%
Indirect Regulatory Product 18%
EXAMPLES OF GENERIC ISSUES EXAMPLES OF GENERIC ISSUES Anticipated transient without SCRAM (ATWS):
- Resulted in the ATWS Rule (10 CFR 50.62)
Loss of all alternating current power (station blackout):
- Resulted in the Station Blackout Rule (10 CFR 50.63)
Flooding from upstream dam failures and increased risk from seismic hazards:
- Actions coordinated with NRC response to the Fukushima nuclear accident Pump strainers clogging inside containment from debris following loss-of-coolant accident:
- Resulted in plant modifications to increase the size of strainers THE GENERIC ISSUES PROGRAM PROGRAM PROCESS PROGRAM PRODUCTS The Generic Issues Program consists of a three-stage process.
First, the Generic Issues Program staff evaluates whether the issue obviously meets all seven screening criteria. Second, a Generic Issues Review Panel of engineers from multiple disciplines performs a more indepth evaluation to determine whether the issue meets all seven screening criteria.
The staff performs a safety, risk, and regulatory assessment of the issue to determine whether the issue is significant enough to warrant regulatory actions.
NRC staff members in the applicable program office determine the appropriate regulatory action to address the concern, and the issue transitions to the corresponding agency regulatory process.
Once all of the necessary regulatory and licensee actions are completed, the staff closes out the generic issue.
During its evaluation, an issue may exit the Generic Issues Program for any of the following reasons:
The issue does not meet one or more of the seven screening criteria.
The issue is referred to the program office for regulatory action.
Action is deferred for additional research.
Stage 1: Screening Stage 2: Assessment Stage 3: Regulatory Office Implementation