ML19330C416
| ML19330C416 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/24/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Lagomarsino R HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19330C417 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008080355 | |
| Download: ML19330C416 (2) | |
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JUL 2 41980 The Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Congressman Lagomarsino:
This is in reply to your letter of June 30, 1980, to the Director of the Office of Congressional Affairs of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
-regarding concerns of your constituent, Mr. Michael Dyar, about nuclear reactor safety. Mr. Dyar seems to be particularly concerned about quality control-of construction of nuclear reactors.
The application of disciplined engineering practices and thorough management and programmatic controls to the design, fabrication, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants is essential to the protection of public health and safety and of the environment. Through a Quality Assurance (QA) program that meets NRC requirements, all organizations perfoming work importan_t to safety are required to conduct work in a preplanned and documented manner, to independently verify the adequacy of completed work, to provide records that will confirm the acceptability of work and manu-factured items, and to assure that all individuals are properly trained and qualified to carry out their responsibilities.
Each NRC licensee is responsible for assuring that its nuclear power plants are built and operated safely and in accordance with NRC regulations.
The NRC has responsibilities for developing the criteria and guides for judg-ing the acceptability of QA programs, for reviewing QA programs of each licensee and its principal contractors to assure that sufficient management and progr6m control exist, and for inspecting selected activities to detemine that QA programs are being implemented effectively. -Where QA programs are hund deficient, the NRC requires appropriate upgrading.
In those cases where the QA program is not properly implemented, the NRC uses enforcement authority as necessary to achieve proper implementation.
If a general-problem develops, improvements in QA programs are made industry wide.
Enclosed for information is Sectan 17 (revised) of the Standard Review Plan of the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation on quality assurance during the design and construction phases and during the operations phase of nuclear power plants. This details the prxedures followed by NRC staff in reviewing and evaluating the QA program of each applicant for a construc-tion pemit or an operating license. Since the Three Mile Island accident i
l 8008080 355
The Honorable Robert J. Lagomarsino and other incidents, the overall structure for detennining an acceptable QA program, including the capabilities and qualifications of individuals aerforming quality-affecting activities, is being reviewed to identify creas.where further. improvements can be made.
The NRC program of inspection and enforcement is described in the enclosed excerpt from the NRC Annual Report for 1979.
NRC inspectors determine the effectiveness of QA systems by direct observation and verification of licensee activities and by reviewing procedures, checking records, inter-viewing people, and, where appropriate, making direct measurements.
Included are inspections of QA programs of contractors and vendors who supply safety-related equipment, components, and services to power reactors under construction or in operation. The NRC is continuing efforts to develop better methods for the evaluation of the regulatory performance of major licensees, with the objective of anticipating potential problems and averting them through prompt remedial action.
Sincerely,
~[5fgneIDT A.Rehm William J. Dircks Acting Executive Director for Operations bs
Enclosures:
u 1.
Section 17 of Standard Review Plan 2.
Chapter 7 of 1979 Annual Report
.