ML19070A234
| ML19070A234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/11/2019 |
| From: | Baker B NRC/OIG/AIGA, OIG Watch |
| To: | Margaret Doane NRC/EDO |
| References | |
| OIG-15-A-06 | |
| Download: ML19070A234 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL March 11, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Margaret M. Doane 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:
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION (NRR), MEMORANDUM DATED JANUARY 25, 2019 Attached is the Office of the Inspector Generals (OIG) analysis and status of recommendations 1 and 3 as discussed in the agencys response dated January 25, 2019. Based on this response, recommendation 1 remains resolved. Recommendation 3 is now closed. Recommendations 2 and 4 were previously closed. Please provide an updated status of the resolved recommendations by January 17, 2020. If you have questions or concerns, please call me at (301) 415-5915, or Paul Rades, Team Leader, at (301) 415-6228.
Attachment:
As stated cc: R. Lewis, OEDO D. Jackson, OEDO J. Jolicoeur, OEDO S. Miotla, OEDO S. Mroz, 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 January 25, 2019: 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.
January 2019 Status Update: NEI 12-16, Revison 3, Guidance for Performing Criticality Analyses of Fuel Storage at Light-Water Reactor Power Plants, dated March 2018 references an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) methodology to determine the bias and uncertainty for the simulated depletion of the fuel. The staff has completed its review of the EPRI methodology and issued a draft safety evaluation for the EPRI/NEI review. The staff held a public meeting with EPRI/NEI in December 2018 to discuss the proposed conditions of approval. Based on the results of that meeting, the staff plans to issue the draft RG for public comment in the second quarter of 2019 and to publish the final RG by the end of 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, as well as revisions to NUREG-0800 that identify a generic regulatory solution for spent fuel pool criticality analysis.
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 January 25, 2019: 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.
January 2019 Status Update: The agency issued GL 2016-01, Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools, dated April 7, 2016, which requests information on the monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools. The NRC staff completed its evaluation of all submitted responses and closed out GL 2016-01 for all licensees. The staff has conducted several followup inspections to verify the adequacy of corrective actions taken by specific licensees with degraded neutron-absorbing materials. The staff will perform additional inspections as needed, based on the progress being made by licensees that are implementing long-term resolutions.
The staff has also identified specific engagement and oversight activities that are appropriate to ensure that the problems identified in the GL 2016-01 do not recur. On November 27, 2018, the NRC issued an effectiveness review memorandum that discusses the staffs evaluations, findings, and actions associated with GL 2016-01.
This action is complete, and Recommendation 3 should be closed.
CONTACT: Scott Krepel, NRR/DSS (301) 302-0399 OIG Analysis: The actions taken by the agency meet the intent of the recommendation. This recommendation is now closed.
Status: Closed.