ML25069A684

RIC2025 - Vic Cusumano - Graded Approach to Power Uprate Reviews_Final R1

ML25069A684
Person / Time
Issue date:	04/22/2025
From:	Victor Cusumano NRC/NRR/DSS
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RIC 2025
Download: ML25069A684 (1)

Text

Graded Approach to Power Uprate Reviews Vic Cusumano Deputy Director, Division of Safety Systems Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Changes Since Last Power Uprate Review

Graded Approach to Reviews

• Focus on the most safety-and risk-significant portions

• Evaluate how the power uprate impacts functions and requirements of structures, systems, and components

• Three categories (or bins)

Minimal, moderate, or detailed review Bin 1 Bin 2 Bin 3

Binning Considerations Areas of review (or systems) based on RS-001

• Factors

• Changes to system design, analyses, or operation

• Risk significance

• Change in margin

• Change in defense in depth (DID)

• Near regulatory limits

• Use of NRC-approved methodologies

• Risk considerations

• ~30% RS-001 sections are risk-amenable

Binning Roadmap

Bin 1Minimal staff review effort expected

• Uprated conditions will likely not affect system design or operation

• ...allowing the NRC to potentially streamline its safety evaluation: for example, having a single section listing the review areas in one table Examples: Various non-safety-related plant heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems Bin 1

Bin 2Moderate staff review expected

• Systems affected by the uprate need to be reviewed against NRC regulations, but changes are unlikely to have a significant impact on nuclear safety

• If the changes are bounded by the current analyses, the staff will review to verify

• If the changes are not bounded by current analyses, or if there are major system modifications or upgrades, the staff will review the system, analyses, or both for compliance with the applicable NRC regulations Examples: Some safety-significant support systems, certain reactor and containment review areas, certain accident analyses Bin 2

Bin 3Detailed staff review expected

• Uprated conditions:

• Result in significant changes to the systems design, analyses, or operation

• Are risk significant

• Result in significant change in margin

• Result in significant change in DID

• Result in values near regulatory limits

• Deviate from NRC-approved methodologies Examples: Some safety-significant support systems, certain reactor and containment review areas, certain accident analyses Bin 3

• As always, the staff review must find

• Reasonable assurance that public health and safety will not be endangered

• Compliance with NRC regulations

• The change is not inimical to the common defense and security or to public health and safety

• Documentation

• Future public engagements