ML25267A199
| ML25267A199 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/29/2025 |
| From: | Brian Benney NRC/NRR/DRO |
| To: | Philip Mckenna NRC/NRR/DRO |
| References | |
| Download: ML25267A199 (1) | |
Text
September 29, 2025 MEMORANDUM TO:
Philip McKenna, Acting Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Brian Benney, Reactor Operations Engineer Generic Communications and Operating Experience Branch Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF THE REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS BIMONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff hosted a public meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institutes (NEIs) Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Task Force executives, senior industry executives, and external stakeholders to discuss the staffs progress on initiatives related to the ROP. The meeting notice and agenda are located at ML25259A083.
ADVANCE Act Discussion Phil McKenna, Acting Director of the Division of Reactor Oversight (DRO) in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), presented the proposed revisions to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program, which are a result of work performed to respond to ADVANCE Act Section 507 and Executive Order 14300. The purpose of this presentation was to provide an update on the Agencys actions to date.
Key highlights of the ROP baseline inspection program revision include:
Reduction of inspection procedures from 47 to 30, with reactor safety procedures being consolidated from 21 to 12.
Shift to inspecting at minimum sample levels (which occurred on July 1, 2025),
eliminating the previous "nominal" sample language. Inspection procedures will only list minimum and maximum samples, with nominal values removed.
Changes to inspection hours and sample allocations, with major revisions to the engineering inspection program and the problem identification and resolution (PIR) team inspection procedures.
The NRC emphasized that these changes require Commission approval due to their significance. Draft revisions are scheduled to be provided to the Commission in a notation vote SECY by October 15, 2025, with implementation targeted for January 1, 2026, pending
approval. A backup plan is in place to continue the current inspection program if Commission review is delayed.
Engineering and PIR Inspection Procedure Updates Major updates to the engineering inspection program were discussed, including:
Transition from a quadrennial cycle to an annual engineering inspection sample, with 175 hours0.00203 days <br />0.0486 hours <br />2.893519e-4 weeks <br />6.65875e-5 months <br /> of effort allocated per site.
Consolidation of five engineering IPs into a single annual inspection procedure, with flexibility for sample selection and scheduling.
Industry comments included an interest in having more discussion on the change to engineering inspections to ensure licensees can properly prepare. NRC agreed to discuss it at the next ROP public meeting. The total number of hours may be in two separate weeks or two back-to-back weeks depending on the areas of focus.
For PIR inspections:
The biennial team inspection will be moved to IMC 2515 Appendix C,Special and Infrequently Performed, Inspections with new entry criteria under development.
Expansion of annual sample opportunities in PIR areas, with increased hours and sample counts to offset the reduction in team inspections.
Industry referenced a recommendation in the Accelerating NRC Reform report that NRC oversight of safety conscious work environment (SCWE) though inspection should be eliminated since there is no regulatory basis to regulate or inspect against NRCs SCWE policy.
Security Inspection Program Revision Security inspection procedures will be reduced from 11 to 6, with a shift toward performance-based objectives and the removal of minimal-risk items. The material control and accounting procedure will be moved to a special, infrequent inspection category. Security inspections will continue to be conducted by teams including regional inspectors and subject matter experts, with frequency and scope adjustments based on risk significance.
Emergency Preparedness and Radiation Protection Emergency preparedness inspection procedures will be transitioned to a biennial schedule, with all non-exercise procedures performed remotely and exercise evaluations conducted on-site.
The program aims to enhance efficiency and reduce resource burdens while maintaining adequate oversight.
Radiation protection inspections will emphasize outage periods, with inspectors focusing on periods of peak radiological activity. Remote inspections will be introduced for documentation-heavy requirements, and efforts will be made to incentivize licensee corrective actions and performance improvements.
Industry recommended that for sites that have more than one refueling outage annually, flexibility should be allowed to spread the new outage inspection over multiple unit refueling outages versus having more inspections for sites with multiple units.
Allegation Program Efficiencies The Office of Enforcement presented proposed efficiencies for the NRC's allegation program, including:
Referral of minor technical concerns directly to licensee corrective action programs without a formal NRC investigation or response.
Expansion of low priority definitions in the allegations manual to include concerns older than five years and certain fitness-for-duty issues that have been corrected.
Use of standardized templates for safety conscious work environment requests. Further analysis will be conducted to monitor the effectiveness and resource savings of these changes.
Industry provided comments that the exceptions may still lead to a number of issues that should be referred to the licensee/vendor but would not. Also, industry stated that the NRC should consider not requiring a formal response for issues that if true would not only be minor but also of very low safety significance (Green). The industry stated that they will collect hypothetical examples of these types of issues to support further discussion.
Performance Indicators and Future ROP Work NEI and NRC staff discussed future plans for reviewing and potentially revising ROP Performance Indicators, focusing initially on unplanned scrams with complications and the Mitigating Systems Performance Indicator (MSPI). Southern Nuclear presented a white paper proposing adjustments to the unplanned scrams with complications PI for AP1000 reactors, reflecting design differences and operational experience. NRC staff committed to reviewing the paper and considering its recommendations in the upcoming PI review.
PIR Team Inspection Entry Criteria Proposed initial entry criteria for invoking PIR team inspections were presented, focusing on:
Two or more greater-than-green findings with PIR cross-cutting aspects issued in a 12-month period.
An amount of cumulative findings with a PI&R cross-cutting area assigned in any 12-month period.
Cross-cutting themes in PIR or SCWE areas that the regional office has concerns about the adequacy of the licensee corrective actions.
Supplemental inspections identifying significant weaknesses in PIR programs not previously identified by licensees.
NRC staff will develop detailed charter and scope documents for each team inspection, with further refinement and public engagement planned for October.
Industry provided feedback that the criteria appears to be at a high enough level to reduce unnecessary burden, or performing the inspection too frequently, but questioned the need for developing cumulative findings with PI&R crosscutting beyond the trigger already established for a cross-cutting theme in PI&R.
AP1000 White paper Southern presented an AP1000 white paper with changes proposed for applicability of unplanned scrams with complications, taking into account AP1000 passive safety feature design and the additional non-safety related feedwater source. This white paper was submitted in parallel with ongoing discussions on eliminating the unplanned scram with complication PI since it is a subset of the unplanned scram PI and issues would already be evaluated under MD 8.3 and through inspection. NRC and NEI agreed that the first two PI priorities are unplanned scram with complications and MSPI PIs and will discuss at the November ROP public meeting.
The Next ROP Meeting An additional ROP public meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 21, 2025 to discuss revisions to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program and proposed revisions to the more-than-minor criteria for documenting non-cited violations. The next regularly scheduled ROP bimonthly public meeting is tentatively scheduled for November 19, 2025.
Communicating with the NRC Staff At the start of all ROP public meetings, the project manager provides contact information for the public to use to provide their name and affiliation as a participant in the meeting. This contact information is also provided for submitting questions and comments to the NRC staff. Please note that any questions and/or comments pertaining to the ROP can be sent to Mr. Brian Benney at Brian.Benney@nrc.gov. The Contact Us about ROP page on the ROP public website can also be used to submit questions and comments regarding the ROP (https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/oversight/contactus.html).
Conclusion The industry representatives expressed appreciation for the open dialogue and willingness of NRC staff to hear industry views. The NRC management stressed the importance of the NRC being focused on providing reasonable assurance of public health and safety when considering changes to the ROP.
The enclosure provides the attendance list for this meeting.
Enclosure:
As stated
- via email OFFICE NRR/DRO/IOEB/BC NRR/DRO/IRIB/BC NRR/DRO/DD NAME BBenney DBollock for HJones PMcKenna DATE 9/24/2025 9/24/2025 9/29/2025 Enclosure LIST OF ATTENDEES REACTOR OVERSIGHT PROCESS BIMONTHLY PUBLIC MEETING September 18, 2025 - 9:00 AM to Noon NAME Organization1 Aaron Baltich-Schecter New York State Department of State Aaron Kostick NRC Aaron McCraw NRC Adam Craig NRC Adam Murphy Dominion Energy Alan Dahbur NRC Alan Konkal NRC Alejandro Alen Arias NRC Alex Garmoe NRC Allen Fulmer Fulmer Alyse Peterson The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Amanda Mivanyi NRC Amanda Tyson Southern Nuclear Amar Patel NRC Amy Chamberlain SNC Anderson Wolfe NRC Andrew Mauer NEI Andrew Zukewycz APS Andy Patz NRC Anntwinette Ragland Southern Nuclear Asensio Enrique Melendez CSN Atif Shaikh NRC Avinash Jaigobind NRC Barry Westreich Terra Power Bill Rautzen NRC Billy Dickson NRC Bo Pham NRC Brad Bishop NRC Brett Jebbia NRC Brian Benney NRC Brian Kwiatkowski NRC Brian Senter Southern Nuclear Brice Bickett NRC Bridget Curran NRC 1 Unknown organization indicates that the participants affiliation was not provided by the issuance of this meeting summary.
2 Bruce Fielding NEXTERA ENERGY Carey Bickett NRC Carlos Flores Constellation Carlos Sisco WINSTON Caty Nolan NRC Chad Garrigan DUKE-ENERGY Charity Pantalo NRC Charles Brockhoff Westinghouse Charles Murray NRC Cherubini, John Entergy Cheryl Ann Gayheart Southern Nuclear Chris Safouri NRC Christian Scott NRC Christine Vann DTE ENERGY Christopher Highley NRC Christopher Riedl TVA Cordie Dorman NRC Craig Kontz NRC Curtis Castell Westinghouse Dalaina Boyer NRC Dan Geary NRC Daniel Grau NRC Daniel Ju NRC Dariusz Szwarc NRC David Burke Holtec David Garmon NRC David Mannai PSEG David OHehir New York State Department of Health Deann Raleigh Curtiss-Wright Derek Corrin DTE ENERGY Derrick Johnson SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT ELECTRIC GENERATING St Don Johnson NRC Dori Willis NRC Doug Bollock NRC Doug Tifft NRC Dustin Bryen NRC Dzu Dang NRC Edwin Lyman UCS Elba Sanchez Santiago NRC En De Chen NRC Eric Brothman NRC Eric Frank DTE ENERGY Eric Miller NRC
3 Erin Carfang NRC Ethan Adams NRC Frances Ramirez NRC Fred May Pacific Gas and Electric Glenn Dentel NRC Gordon Williams TVA Grace Spaulding NRC Gregory Anderson DTE ENERGY Heather Jones NRC Ian Bitner ENERGY-NORTHWEST Jack Bell NRC Jamaal Merriweather Southern Nuclear James Baptist NRC James Chamberlain Southern Nuclear James Drake NRC James Gaslevic NRC James Mejia NRC James Morris Pacific Gas and Electric Jared Nadel NRC Jasmine Gilliam NRC Jason Brodlowicz NRC Jason Carneal NRC Jason Hunt Southern Nuclear Jason Kozal NRC Jason Mote Southern Nuclear Jay Bodnar NEI Jeff Bream NRC Jeff Rady NRC Jeffery Hardy Entergy Jennifer Dalzell NRC Jeremia Mueller APS Jeremy Heimke NRC Jesse Brown Constellation Jill Monahan PSU Jimmy Chang NRC John Cassidy NRC John Giddens Entergy John Hughey NRC John McKirgan NRC John ODonnell NRC John Pyle STPEGS John Robbins NRC Johnny Hoang NRC Johnny Rogers NEI Jonathan Durfee Westinghouse
4 Jonathan Rivera NRC Jorge Corujo-Sandin NRC Joshua Turner EVERGY Joy Jiang The Breakthrough Institute Joylynn Quinones-Navarro NRC Julianne McCallum NEI Julie Kulik NRC Justin Bouknight Dominion Energy Justin Bresson NRC Justin Knowles Constellation Justin Wearne PSEG Kara Rhoades AMEREN Kari Osborne Southern Nuclear Karla Stoedter NRC Katie McCurry NRC Kenneth Kolaczyk NRC Kevin Ellis DUKE-ENERGY Khaing Hsu Wai NRC Kourosh Moayyed-Mohseni Southern Nuclear Kris Smetana NRC Kurt Gosney XCEL ENERGY Lauren Casey NRC Leanne Flores NRC Linda Dewhirst Nebraska Public Power District Lindsay Merker NRC Lou McKown NRC Luis Betancourt NRC Lundy Pressley NRC Mahdi Hayes NRC Manuel Crespo NRC Maribel Valdez FPL Marjorie McLaughlin NRC Mark Mcneely DUKE-ENERGY Martin Phalen Unkown Matt Young NRC Matthew Hardgrove NRC Matthew Rector Constellation Maureen Conley NRC Michael Benson NRC Michael Corbin WOLF CREEK NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION Michael Stevens Pacific Gas and Electric Michael Whitlock NEI Micheal Smith NEI Michelle Bales NRC
5 Michelle Kichline NRC Miguel Hernandez NRC Mike Stafford NRC Molly Marsh Constellation Monica Peak Entergy Muzammil Siddiqui NRC Naeem Iqbal NRC Natasha Greene NRC Nick Harmon NRC Nick Smalley NRC Nicole Good Stars Alliance Nikki Warnek NRC Odunayo Ayegbusi NRC Orlando Hernandez FPL Patricia Vossmar NRC Patrick Asendorf TVA Peter Lom NRC Philip McKenna NRC Phillip Smagacz NRC Priscilla Wu NRC Qin Pan NRC Rachel Qian NRC Ray McKinley NRC Rebecca Sigmon NRC Reinaldo Rodriguez NRC Ricardo Medina TVA Richard Easter NRC Riley Maynard NRC Rob Burg EPM-INC Robin Ritzman Curtiss-Wright Rodney Fanner NRC Ronald Cureton DUKE-ENERGY Roxanne Vonhabsburg DTE ENERGY Ryan Alexander NRC Sam McClay NRC Sandra Mendez NRC Sara Scott XCEL ENERGY Sara Taylor NRC Sarah Elkhiamy NRC Sarah Temple NRC Seamus Flanagan NRC Sean Fahnestock VISTRA CORP Sean Zalesny NEI Sebastien Bruneau NRC Shakur Walker NRC
6 Shane Sandal NRC Shawn Kirven Stars Alliance Sherlyn Haney NRC Sheryl Sweet FPL Skutt, David (HEALTH)
New York State Department of Health Stephanie Agee Southern Nuclear Stephenie Pyle Entergy Steven Roberts NRC Tanvir Siddiky NRC Tara Inverso NRC Taunia Jean Sandquist Los Alamos National Laboratory Tim Barvitskie NRC Tim Hennessey NRC Tim Riti NEI Timothy Falkiewicz FPL Timothy Graf Pacific Gas and Electric Todd C Dings DTE ENERGY Tom Stephen NRC Tony Brown NRC Tony Qualantone Burns & McDonnell Business & Technology Solutions Group Treyvon Griffin NRC Troy Zimmerman Duke Energy Victoria Dennis TVA Wellington Tejada VISTRA CORP Will Garrett SNC Zackery Helgert NRC Mike Stafford NRC Molly Marsh Constellation Monica Peak Entergy Muzammil Siddiqui NRC Naeem Iqbal NRC Natasha Greene NRC Nick Harmon NRC Nick Smalley NRC Nicole Good Stars Alliance Nikki Warnek NRC Odunayo Ayegbusi NRC Orlando Hernandez FPL Patricia Vossmar NRC Patrick Asendorf TVA Peter Lom NRC Philip McKenna NRC Phillip Smagacz NRC Priscilla Wu NRC
7 Qin Pan NRC Rachel Qian NRC Ray McKinley NRC Rebecca Sigmon NRC Reinaldo Rodriguez NRC Ricardo Medina TVA Richard Easter NRC Riley Maynard NRC Rob Burg EPM-INC Robin Ritzman Curtiss-Wright Rodney Fanner NRC Ronald Cureton DUKE-ENERGY Roxanne Vonhabsburg DTE ENERGY Ryan Alexander NRC Sam McClay NRC Sandra Mendez NRC Sara Scott XCEL ENERGY Sara Taylor NRC Sarah Elkhiamy NRC Sarah Temple NRC Seamus Flanagan NRC Sean Fahnestock VISTRA CORP Sean Zalesny NEI Sebastien Bruneau NRC Shakur Walker NRC Shane Sandal NRC Shawn Kirven Stars Alliance Sherlyn Haney NRC Sheryl Sweet FPL Skutt, David (HEALTH)
New York State Department of Health Stephanie Agee Southern Nuclear Stephenie Pyle Entergy Steven Roberts NRC Tanvir Siddiky NRC Tara Inverso NRC Taunia Jean Sandquist Los Alamos National Laboratory Tim Barvitskie NRC Tim Hennessey NRC Tim Riti NEI Timothy Falkiewicz FPL Timothy Graf Pacific Gas and Electric Todd C Dings DTE ENERGY Tom Stephen NRC Tony Brown NRC
8 Tony Qualantone Burns & McDonnell Business & Technology Solutions Group Treyvon Griffin NRC Troy Zimmerman Duke Energy Victoria Dennis TVA Wellington Tejada VISTRA CORP Will Garrett SNC Zackery Helgert NRC