OIG-25-A-10, Enclosure - Staff Response to the Office of the Inspector Generals Audit to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions Use of Operating Experience in Emergency Diesel Generators Oversight (OIG-25-A-10)
| ML25252A188 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/06/2025 |
| From: | NRC/EDO |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML25239B615 | List: |
| References | |
| OEDO-25-00411, OIG-25-A-10 | |
| Download: ML25252A188 (3) | |
Text
Enclosure Staff Response to Recommendations from OIG-25-A-10 Recommendation:
Establish an assessment process to periodically assess the Reactor Operating Experience (OpE) Program.
Response
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Establish an Assessment Process:
The staff will include a process for assessing the OpE Program in the updated directive handbook for the next revision of Management Directive (MD) 8.7, Reactor Operating Experience Program.
Target date for completion: June 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief Recommendation:
Update LIC-401 to include a description of the current process by which staff assess the significance of OpE information.
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Update LIC-401:
The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) is awaiting decisions on reorganization to determine whether LIC-401, NRR Reactor Operating Experience Program, will be updated to reflect the current process the staff uses to assess the significance of OpE, whether it will also be updated to reflect a reorganization, or whether the information is better contained in the MD 8.7 directive handbook and referenced desktop guides instead of LIC-401.
Target date for completion: June 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief Recommendation:
Update the Staff Handbook to provide step-by-step guidance for implementing the requirements stated in the updated LIC-401.
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
2 Planned Actions to Update the Staff Handbook:
The staff is in the process of achieving the objective of this recommendation by updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to provide the recommended guidance. The updated directive handbook will direct users to an active link where desktop guides with current, step-by-step instructions reside for implementing the program that can be easily updated when processes and links change.
Target date for completion: June 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief Recommendation:
Include within the updated LIC-401 and Staff Handbook a description of the purpose of Instruction Sheets as interim guidance and state where they are located.
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Update LIC-401 and the Staff Handbook:
The staff is updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to implement this recommendation. The updated directive handbook will include a description of the purpose of the desktop guides, based on the current Instruction Sheets, and an active link to find them.
Target date for completion: June 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief Recommendation:
Develop, communicate, and implement policies and procedures for the emergency diesel generator (EDG) technical review groups (TRGs).
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Develop, Communicate, and Implement Policies and Procedures for Technical Review Groups:
The staff is developing policies and procedures for TRGs that will be documented in the desktop guide for administering the TRG process, which will be referenced by the MD 8.7 directive handbook currently being drafted.
Target date for completion: June 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief
3 Recommendation:
Systematically inform EDG TRG members about their membership, update the OpE SharePoint site to show the current membership of TRGs, and record TRG evaluations in a centralized location.
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Update Technical Review Group Information:
A self-assessment of the TRG process was completed on July 15, 2025, identifying areas for improvement in the TRG program. The Division of Reactor Oversights Generic Communications and Operating Experience Branch is currently conducting an audit of TRG leads and members to verify lists are accurate in branch records and relevant databases.
Processes for developing, communicating, and recording TRG evaluations will be included as part of the desktop guide being developed for administering the TRG process to ensure a more systematic administration of the process.
Target date for completion: January 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief Recommendation:
Provide and promote EDG TRG training to current members on all SharePoint sites.
Response
The NRC staff agrees with this recommendation.
Planned Actions to Provide Technical Review Group Training to Current Technical Review Group Members:
Training materials are being updated, and the staff is exploring the potential development of a Talent Management System training module to provide centralized, easily accessible resources for all TRG members.
Target date for completion (training materials updated): January 2026 Point of
Contact:
Rebecca Sigmon, NRR/DRO/IOEB Acting Branch Chief