ML23166B131
| ML23166B131 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/15/2023 |
| From: | NRC/OCM |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML23110A703 | List: |
| References | |
| M230620 | |
| Download: ML23166B131 (1) | |
Text
June 20, 2023 Briefing on the Results of the Agency Action Review Meeting
Agency Action Review Meeting (AARM) Objectives Review the appropriateness of NRC actions taken for licensees with significant performance issues 01 Review Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety Program Performance and Trends 02 Review effectiveness of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) and the Construction ROP 03 Ensure that trends in licensee performance are recognized and appropriately addressed 04 2
Agenda Theresa Clark
- Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety Program Performance and Trends Russell Felts
- CY 2022 ROP Self-Assessment Results
- COVID-19 Lessons Learned for the ROP
- Inspection Findings Trend Andrea Johnson
- CY 2022 cROP Self-Assessment Results Joshua Borromeo
- Overview of NIST Event and NRC Response 3
Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety Program Theresa Clark, Deputy Director Division of Materials Safety, Security, State, and Tribal Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Sound Licensee Performance in the Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety Program Systematic review of information to identify significant:
- Operational performance issues
- Licensee performance issues
- NRC program issues/gaps No nuclear materials licensee met the significant performance issue criteria in SECY-11-0132 for FY2022.
5
Safety and Security Goals Met
- Fuel Facilities
- Decommissioning and Low-level Waste
- Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation
- Nuclear Materials Users o Met performance indicators for licensing, inspection, enforcement, and allegations o Did not meet NM-23, Percentage of Materials Programs with More than One Unsatisfactory Performance Indicator 6
Fewer Events for Nuclear Material Users 7
Nine Abnormal Occurrences in FY2022
- 7 medical events
- No significant trends
- Number of medical events is small relative to the millions of procedures involving the use of radioactive material 8
A Healthy National Materials Program 13 IMPEP reviews of Agreement State materials programs conducted in FY2022 39 Agreement States o 35 programs adequate and compatible o 3 programs on Heightened Oversight o 1 program on Probation Assessing programmatic enhancements 9
Integrating and Modernizing the Materials and Waste Program
- Operating experience assessments
- Coordinated approach to oversight and qualifications
- Standing committee for reviewing emerging medical technologies 10
Many Successes in FY2022 11
- No significant trends
- Transitioned out of pandemic
- Innovating and risk-informing across all NMSS program areas
Russell Felts, Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation ROP Self-Assessment, COVID-19, and Inspection Findings Trend
ROP Self-Assessment Program 13 ROP Self-Assessment Program Was the ROP implemented per current governance documents, and was it implemented uniformly across all offices and regions?
Did the ROP meet its program goals?
Did the ROP meet its intended outcomes?
Did ROP execution adhere to the Principles of Good Regulation?
CY 2022 ROP Self-Assessment Results
- The ROP provided effective oversight of operating reactors
- The ROP was implemented in accordance with the Principles of Good Regulation (Independence, Clarity, Openness, Reliability, and Efficiency)
- The ROP supports the agencys strategic goals:
- To ensure the safe and secure use of radioactive materials
- To continue to foster a healthy organization
- To inspire stakeholder confidence in the NRC 14
ROP Self-Assessment Activities in CY 2022 15 Element 1
- Performance Metrics
- Data Trending
- Program Area Evaluations, Including Significance Determination Process (SDP) Timeliness Review
- Implementation Audit of Region I Element 2
- Effectiveness Review of the Incorporation of Safety Culture into the ROP (started)
- Effectiveness Review of Recommendations from IP 95003 Lessons Learned
- ROP Lessons Learned Tracker Element 3
- Baseline Inspection Program Monitoring - DRO only
CY 2022 ROP Performance Metrics Results
- 2 red metrics, still due to the impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency
- I-3 Manager Objectivity Reviews
- I-4 Qualified Staff
- 2 yellow
- I-5 Resident Site Staffing
- E-3 SDP Completion Timeliness
- 13 green
- R-2 No ROP Action Matrix deviations
Plans for CY 2023 ROP Self-Assessment Activities 17 Element 1: Measure Regional and Headquarters Program Effectiveness and Uniformity Implementing the ROP
- Performance Metrics
- Data Trending
- Program Area Evaluations (Including Review of Baseline Security SDP)
- Implementation Audit of Region II Element 2: Assess Effectiveness of Recent ROP Changes and Evaluate the NRCs Response to Significant Licensee Events or Declining Licensee Performance
- Continue the Effectiveness Review of Safety Culture
- Lessons Learned Tracker Element 3: Perform Focused Assessments of Specific ROP Program Areas, Including the Baseline Inspection Program
- Baseline Inspection Program Monitoring - DRO only
18 ROP through COVID-19 Current and future intent is to perform inspection activities on site and to complete the nominal baseline inspection; ROP has built in flexibilities
- NRR issued a cancellation memo on April 21, 2023, which rescinded the ROP inspection guidance in place due to COVID-19. NMSS also issued a comparable memo.
Comprehensive Baseline Inspection Program Review
- Focused on lessons learned during COVID-19 and flexibilities to complete future baseline inspection
- Completed November 2021 Follow-on Review of Lessons Learned, Best Practices, and Challenges
- Included engagement opportunities with internal, external, and international stakeholders
- Identified potential enhancements to the program for both normal and abnormal situations
- Completed July 2022
- A working group is being chartered to implement selected recommendations
Inspection Findings Trend
- Clear downward trend in number of green ROP inspection findings began in 2015 through 2020, but has increased each of the past two years
- The average number of findings per site decreased by approximately 1.5 findings per site each year from 2015 through 2020
- In CY 2022, the ROP had approximately 6.8 findings per site (4.0 findings per unit), comparable to the number of green findings issued in 2019 19 0
50 100 150 200 250 300 Green ROP Inspection Findings 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
Construction ROP Andrea Johnson, Senior Project Manager Division of Construction Oversight Region II
Successful transition from cROP to ROP after the 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding Vogtle Unit 3 Transition to ROP 21 21
Vogtle Unit 4 Construction Reactor Oversight Process Ensuring Strong and Effective Oversight
- Successful cROP implementation
- No cROP Action Matrix deviations in CY 2022
- ITAAC, initial test and operational programs coordination
- Targeted ITAACs 22
Lessons Learned Nurturing a Culture of Continuous Learning
- Unit 3 post 10 CFR 52.103(g) finding audit
- Informing future construction oversight program
- Vogtle Readiness Group (VRG)
- Enhanced inspection strategies
- Lessons learned initiative
- Late Filed Allegations (LFA) 23
Overview of NIST Event and NRC Response Joshua Borromeo, Branch Chief Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities Licensing Branch Division of Advanced Reactors and Nonpower Production and Utilization Facilities Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
NIST Test Reactor
Background
- Normally Operated 24/7
- Refueling ~50 days
- Plate-type fuel with 34 plates per element and up to 30 elements in the core
- Non-pressurized heavy water primary cooling system with helium cover gas
Event Overview
- Increasing radioactivity at the exhaust stack monitor automatically shut down the reactor
- All safety systems functioned properly
- No significant radiological consequences for workers, the public, or the environment
- The cause of the event was a fuel element not properly latched
- Displaced element overheated and fuel melted 26
NIST Oversight Timeline 3 Feb. 2021 Emergency alert event 9 Feb. 2021 Special inspection began 1 Oct. 2021 Restart authorization request 16 Mar. 2022 Special inspection report issued 1 Aug. 2022 Confirmatory order and supplemental inspection plan issued 7 Mar. 2023 Supplemental inspection report issued 10 Mar. 2023 Restart authorization and technical evaluation report issued 16 Mar. 2023 NIST test reactor restarted 27
Special Inspection and Enforcement
- NIST restart authorization request identified
- 7 root causes
- 23 corrective actions
- Special inspection team (SIT) assessment
- 7 apparent violations
- Mediated alternative dispute resolution
- agreement to corrective actions and timelines
- Confirmatory order 28
Technical Review of Restart Request
- Review of the event and corrective actions
- Review ensured no functional damage:
- Effectiveness of clean-up activities
- Primary coolant system with potential remaining debris
- NIST will not reuse any fuel in the core during event
- Confirmed adequacy of limiting safety system settings and maximum hypothetical accident 29
NRC Oversight
- Enhanced NRC oversight since the event
- Special inspection informed corrective actions
- Supplemental inspections assessed the effectiveness of completed corrective actions
- Inspection areas
- Emergency response (equipment, procedures)
- Fueling, defueling, latching procedures
- Primary system clean-up and restart core
- Start-up and abnormal conditions procedures
- Operator and supervisor training
- Safety Culture 30
Restart Authorization Evaluation of safety systems and components Corrective actions and enhancements to prevent recurrence Additional enhancements to improve safety Increased NRC oversight 31
Post-Restart Oversight
- Staff observed improvements in key areas of NIST operations since the event
- The NRC staff will continue to perform supplemental inspections
- Increased NRC inspector on-site presence, including observations of fueling/defueling activities and significant maintenance activities
- The NRC staff will continue to assess NISTs implementation of corrective actions and confirm completion of Confirmatory Order actions
- Increased oversight of the NIST reactor will continue until routine inspections are appropriate 32
Introspective Look Continuing to learn and improve
- No significant gaps identified in regulatory oversight framework for RTRs
- Enhancements to inspection samples
- Sharing of RTR operating experience
- Enhancements to reactive inspection decision-making and internal emergency response for RTR events
- Opportunity for further insights as NIST implements corrective actions 33
Conclusion The NRC staff affirmed the appropriateness of agency actions and the effectiveness of our oversight programs 34
List of Acronyms
- 52.103(g) OR 103(g) - Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 52.103(g)
- AARM - Agency Action Review Meeting
- COVID Coronavirus Disease 2019
- cROP - Construction Reactor Oversight Process
- CY - Calendar Year
- DRO - Division of Reactor Oversight
- FY - Fiscal Year
- HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air
[Filter]
- IMC - Inspection Manual Chapter
- IMPEP - Integrated Materials Performance Evaluation Program
- IP - Inspection Procedure
- IMC - Inspection Manual Chapter
- ITAAC - Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria
- LFA - Late-Filed Allegations
- MD - Management Directive
- MW - Megawatt
- NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology
- NMSS - Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
- NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- NRR - Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- ROP - Reactor Oversight Process
- RTR - Research and Test Reactor
- SIT - Special Inspection Team
- VRG - Vogtle Readiness Group 35