ML26026A299

January 2026 ROP Bimonthly Public Meeting

ML26026A299
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/29/2026
From:	Jeffrey Bream Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response
To:
References
Download: ML26026A299 (20)

Text

NRC Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Bimonthly Public Meeting January 29, 2026

Purpose, Outcome, Plan/Agenda Purpose of the Presentation

• To discuss ROP Baseline Inspection Program topics.

Desired Outcome

• Communicate proposed revisions to the inspection program, inspection procedures, and guidance to industry and members of the public.

Agenda 9:00am Introductions and Opening Remarks Phil McKenna and NEI 9:05am Update on the Recommend Revision for Security Baseline Inspection Jeff Bream 9:20am Emergency Response Facility and Equipment Readiness Performance Indicator Don Johnson 9:25am Overview of White Paper on Microreactor Oversight Casey Smith 9:45am Update on SECY-25-0045, Recommendations for Revising the ROP Phil McKenna 10:00am Update on the Recommended Revisions to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program Phil McKenna 10:15am Break 10:30am Performance Indicator Discussion and Next Steps NEI 11:05am Open Discussion NRC, NEI, Industry 11:25am Additional Opportunity for Public Comments Members of the Public Noon Meeting Adjourn

Security Inspection Program Update Jeff Bream Senior Security Risk Analyst Security Oversight Support Branch Office of Nuclear Security and Incident

Response

Key Messages Proposed changes to the security baseline inspection program, including force-on-force (FOF) program, would (subject to Commission decision):

• Estimated 41-48% reduction in overall direct inspection effort and time onsite annually, while maintaining reasonable assurance of adequate protection.

• Streamline the baseline security inspection program from 11 inspection procedures (IPs) to two annual IPs and two triennial IPs.

• Identify inspection activities suitable for completion by resident inspectors (i.e., requires minimal additional training for resident inspectors).

• Prioritize inspection of most risk-significant samples and licensee performance.

ROP Baseline Security Inspection Program

• Subject to Commission approval.

• NSIR has consolidated security aspects of the ROP paper with the FOF paper to provide the Commission with a complete picture of the security baseline inspection program.

Procedure Number Freq Title Min Samples Minimum Procedure Hours New Min Hours (Annualized) 71130.10 T

Cybersecurity 3

63 21 71130.15 A

Security Operations (Resident Inspectors) 6 16 16 71130.16 A

Security Performance (Regional Inspectors) 4 64 64 71130.17 T

Force-on-Force Exercise 1

144-208 48 - 69 ANNUALIZED TOTAL 149 - 170

Further Enhancements

• Implementation of a scoring methodology

• Bounds the complexity of exercise scenarios.

• Minimum and maximum thresholds will ensure exercises are sufficiently challenging yet realistic in incorporating DBT attributes.

• Modify performance testing tactics that do not allow for equitable evaluation and testing.

• Mitigates challenges for tactics that are difficult to simulate and assess as credible threat vectors (e.g., unattended openings which are difficult to simulate).

FOF exercises will continue to simulate the DBT to the maximum extent practicable. Other security baseline inspections will be used to assess pathways and viable tactics for potential vulnerabilities.

Independent Assessment

• Stakeholder engagement related to the FOF exercise scenarios.

• Independent assessment identified five recommendations aimed at ensuring scenario realism, mitigating scope expansion, and improving planning efficiency.

• Escalation process timeline

• Scenario refinements

• Scenario realism

• Scoring Methodology

• Role of the insider

• Visitor Access Controls - non-compliant visitors

Security Inspection Program Update Don Johnson Senior Emergency Preparedness Specialist Policy and Oversight Branch Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response

Emergency Response Facility and Equipment Readiness Performance Indicator (ERFER-PI)

• The new ERFER-PI was implemented on January 1, 2025. The NRC Staff (NSIR/DPR/POB) would like to discuss the effectiveness of this revision at the March 2026 ROP Bi-monthly meeting.

Overview of White Paper on Microreactor Oversight Casey Smith Reactor Operations Engineer Reactor Assessment Branch Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

ADVANCE Act Section 208 Section 208 states, in part, the Commission shall no later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, develop risk-informed and performance-based strategies and guidance to license and regulate micro-reactors...

Including strategies and guidance for... oversight and inspection. In addition, the Commission shall consider the unique characteristics of microreactors (physical size, design simplicity, and source term)

Complete NLT: January 9, 2026

OVERSIGHT AND INSPECTION STRATEGIES FOR MICROREACTORS DURING OPERATIONAL PHASE

• Leveraging aspects of the NPUF oversight program and the ROP

• Oversight and inspection will be based on the following guiding principles:

• Effective

• Risk-informed

• Performance-based

• Innovative

• Scalable

• Focus on significant maintenance periods

• Performance Monitoring

• Performance Indicator Program

• Assessment Program

• It is not anticipated resident inspectors will be permanently stationed at microreactor deployment sites

• Oversight and Inspection Strategies for Microreactors During Operational Phase, dated December 9, 2025: ML25329A275

Next Phase - Development to Implementation

• Develop the initial framework for operational oversight for advanced reactors

• Touchpoints with NRC management advisory committee

• Continue external stakeholder engagement

• Comprehensive training for inspectors and oversight staff Complete by: July 9, 2027

Overall Baseline Inspection Program Update Phil McKenna, Director Division of Reactor Oversight Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Update on SECY-25-0045 and the Recommended Revision to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program

• Update on SECYs-25-0045

• Awaiting Final Staff Requirements Memorandum

• Update on the Recommended Revision to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program

• Two SECYs:

• Recommendations to Revise the Reactor Oversight Process Baseline Inspection Program

• Revising the Security Baseline Inspection Program including the Force-on-Force Inspection Program

Revised ROP Overview KEY MESSAGES

• 21 IPs currently used for the NRR ROP BIP

• 5 IPs will be sunset

• 71111.06, Flood Protection Measures (attributes shifted to.01 and.04)

• 71111.07, Heat Exchanger/Sink Performance (attributes shifted to.24)

• 71111.12, Maintenance Effectiveness (requirements shifted to.24)

• 71111.18, Plant Modifications (attributes shifted to.04,.11, engineering inspection)

• 71151, Performance Indicator Verification (reduced verification shifted to Plant Status, or other IPs)

• The 5 engineering IPs will be consolidated into one newly developed IP

• 12 IPs will remain in use IP Title Issue Date Action 71111.01 Adverse Weather Protection 8/1/2022 Maintained 71111.04 Equipment Alignment 9/19/2023 Maintained 71111.05 Fire Protection 8/1/2022 Maintained 71111.06 Flood Protection Measures 8/1/2022 Sunset 71111.07 Heat Exchanger/Sink Performance 8/18/2023 Sunset 71111.08 Inservice Inspection Activities 10/16/2023 Maintained 71111.11 Licensed Operator Requalification Program and Licensed Operator Performance 12/6/2024 Maintained 71111.12 Maintenance Effectiveness 3/31/2021 Sunset 71111.13 Maintenance Risk Assessments and Emergent Work Control 8/1/2022 Maintained 71111.15 Operability Determinations and Functionality Assessments - Effective January 1, 2026 4/9/2025 Maintained 71111.18 Plant Modifications - Effective Date January 1, 2025 11/21/2024 Sunset 71111.20 Refueling and Other Outage Activities 4/6/2022 Maintained 71111.21M Comprehensive Engineering Team Inspection 6/27/2025 New IP 71111.21N.03 Commercial Grade Dedication 2/16/2023 Referenced 71111.21N.04 Age-Related Degradation 4/9/2025 Referenced 71111.21N.05 Fire Protection Team Inspection (FPTI) 6/12/2019 Referenced 71111.24 Testing and Maintenance of Equipment Important to Risk 3/7/2023 Maintained 71151 Performance Indicator Verification - Effective Date 01/01/2025 12/12/2024 Sunset 71152 Problem Identification and Resolution (PI&R) 10/31/2023 Altered 71153 Follow up of Events and Notices of Enforcement Discretion 9/16/2020 Maintained

Revised ROP Overview Procedure Series Current Program Annualized Hours Proposed Program Annualized Hours

% Change Resource Usage Reactor Safety Inspection Procedures (IP 71111 Series) 1145 797

-30%

Emergency Preparedness Inspection Procedures (IP 71114 Series) 144 63

-56%

Radiation Protection Inspection Procedures (IP 71124 Series) 115 71

-38%

Security Procedures Inspection (IP 71130 Series) 287 149

-48%

PI Review, PI&R, Event Follow-Up Inspection Procedures 327 165

-49%

TOTAL 2018 1245

-38%

Questions and Discussion on the Revisions to the ROP Baseline Inspection Program

Performance Indicator Discussion and Next Steps Nuclear Energy Institute

Open Discussion