ML25322A371
| ML25322A371 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/18/2025 |
| From: | Toledo G NRC/OE/CRB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML25322A371 (1) | |
Text
Differing Views Program (DVP) Updates Gladys Figueroa-Toledo Senior Project Manager Concerns Resolution Branch Office of Enforcement November 19, 2025 1
ADVANCE Act Direction ADVANCE Act directed the NRC to identify and assess measures to improve oversight and inspections, including updating the Differing Professional Views or Opinions process to ensure that any impacts on agency decisions and schedules are commensurate with the safety significance of the differing opinion.
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Highlights 3
Platform for Voicing and Resolving Concerns: The revised Differing Views Program (DVP) maintains a platform for voicing concerns and facilitating open dialogue in a respectful environment to foster a safe, open, and collaborative work environment. These updates, launched under the ADVANCE Act, align with the updated NRC mission statement and Executive Order 14300, "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," efforts.
Early Engagement: To encourage more upfront engagement in the decision-making process, submitters must engage in informal discussions and the Open-Door Policy before using the NCP and DPO processes. Everyone has a shared responsibility for fostering open dialogue and focusing on achieving timely, risk-informed and safety-focused outcomes.
Safety Significance: A Safety Significance Determination Tool (SSDT) will be used to prioritize issues based on their safety impact, ensuring efficient resource allocation and focus on high-impact concerns.
Accountability for Timely Resolution: Fixed timelines have been established for the processing of differing views to ensure prompt consideration. Timely disposition of issues is necessary as part of NRC's responsibility to enable the safe and secure use of deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials.
New Timeliness Goals Differing Professional Opinion (DPO)
Nonconcurrence Process (NCP)
Safety Significance 11 business days 11 business days Low 21 business days 15 business days Medium 11 business days 11 business days High 4
Summary of additional flexibilities to enable timely disposition of issues 5
Revised Timeliness Goals Informal discussions and the use of the Open-Door Policy are required before entering the NCP or the DPO Program Use of a safety significance determination tool to inform graded approach to resolution based on significance One touch approach - Repeat issues that were previously addressed in an NCP or DPO are excluded unless there is significant new information.
Also, elimination of option to appeal DPO decisions Decision-making delegation of authority for the NCP approver /
DPO decision-maker roles The OD, RA, or designee sets up the DPO panel or reviewer and has discretion to determine the size and composition of the panel, or use of a single reviewer, based on the specifics of the case involved, prioritization and resource availability.