ML20199F991

Responds to Re Progress of Proposed Improvements to NRC Insp & Assessment Programs

ML20199F991
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/19/1999
From:	Travers W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Powers D Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
References
ACRS-GENERAL, NUDOCS 9901220135
Download: ML20199F991 (4)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20056 4 001 January 19, 1999 Dr. Dana A. Powers, Chairman Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

SUBJECT:

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NRC INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS - INTERIM REPORT I

Dear Dr. Powers:

I am responding to your letter of December 16,1998, in which the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discussed the progress of the proposed improvements to the NRC 1

inspection and assessment programs and its intention to further review this matter during the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

I agree with your assessment that much more work remains to be done particularly with regards to the integration of the assessment process. The staff looks forward to discussing our progress to date and the remaining challenges ahead at the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

i Sincerely,

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William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc: Chairman Jackson k

Commissioner Dicus

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Commissioner Diaz 4

Commissioner McGaffigan I.,O./

Commissioner Merrifield SECY (J

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January 19, 1999 l

Dr. Dana A. Pow:rs, Chairman l

Advisory Committ::e on R actor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

SUBJECT:

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NRC INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS - INTERIM REPORT

Dear Dr. Powers:

I am responding to your letter of December 16,1998, in which the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discussed the progress of the proposed improvements to the NRC inspection and assessment programs and its intention to further review this matter during the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

I agree with your assessment that much more work remains to be done particularly with regards to the integration of the assessment process. The staff looks forward to discussing our progress to date and the remaining challenges ahead at the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

Sinceray, OUNillsignedby manno.Tmwa William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc:

Chairman Jackson Commissioner Dicus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield SECY Distribution:

Central Files PlPB R/F PUBLIC NRR Mailroom (GT 19980741)

MKnapp FMiraglia PNorry JBlaha WDTravers SGBurns ACThadani TTMartin CJPaperiello HMiller, RI LReyes,Ril JLCaldwell, Rlli EWMerschoff, RIV JAMitchell, OEDO DOCUMENT NAME: A:\\acrsitr.wpd

• See previous concurrence.

To rective a copy of this document, indicate in the box: 'C" = Copy without enclosures *E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy OFFICE PIPB: DISP

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Dr. Robert L. Selb, Chiirmin Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 l

SUBJECT:

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO E NRC INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS -IN -RIM REPORT

Dear Dr. Seale:

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j l am responding to your letter of Dece r 16,1998, in which the Advisory Committee on i

Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) discus d the progress of the proposed improvements to the NRC l-inspection and assessment progr s and its intention to further review this matter during the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

I agree with your assessm t that much more work remains to be done particularly with regards to the integration of the sessment process. The staff looks forward to discussing our progress to date and t remaining challenges ahead at the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

Sincerely, William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations cc:

Chairman Jackson Commissioner Dieus Commissioner Diaz Commissioner McGaffigan Commissioner Merrifield SECY Distribution:

Central Files PIPB R/F PUBLIC NRR Mailroom (GT 19980741)

MKnapp FMiraglia PNorry JBlaha WDTravers SGBurns ACThadani TTMartin CJPaperiello HMiller, RI LReyes, Ril JLCaldwell, Rlli EWMerschoff, RIV JAMitchell, OEDO DOCUMENT NAME: A:\\acrsitr.wpd

• See previous concurrence.

To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without enclosures *E" = Copy with enclosures "N" = No copy OFFICE PIPB: DISP lC PIPB: DISP l

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D:NRR n4C NAME RJPascarellir3F MRJohnsoM FPGhttfrdd JESilber &

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• g cj0Tl0N EDO Principal Correspondence Control TROMs DUE: 01/19/99 EDO CONTROL: Gl9980741 DOC DT: 12/16/98 FINAL REPLY:

R. L. Seale, ACRS TO:

Travers, EDO FOR SIGNATURE OF :

• • GRN CRC NO:

Travers, EDO DESC ROUTING:

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NRC INSPECTION AND Travers ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS - INTERIM REPORT Knapp Miraglia Norry Blaha Burns EATE: 12/18/98 Thadani, RES Martin, AEOD ASSIGNED TO:'

CONTACT:

Paperiello,NMSS Miller, RI

_NRR Collins Reyes, RII Caldwell, R111 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Merschoff, RIV Mitchell, OEDO Prepare response to ACRS-for.EDO signature.: Add:

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o wAswiscrow, n.c.zossa December 10,1998 Dr. William D. Travers -

Executive Director for Operations U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Dear Dr. Travers:

1

SUBJECT:

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NRC INSPECTION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAMS -INTERIM REPORT During the 458" meeting of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, December 3-5, 1998, we reviewed the proposed changes to the NRC Inspection and Assessment Programs, including initiatives related to development of performance indicators and a risk-based inspection program. Our Subcommittees on Reliability and Probabilistic Risk Assessment, Plant Operations, and Regulatory Policios and Practices also reviewed this matter on November 20, 1998. During these reviews, we had the benefit of discussions with representatives of the NRC staff and the Nuclear Energy institute (NEI). During our 458* meeting, September 30 - October 2,1998, the NRC staff and NEl discussed the results of the Performance Assessment Workshop held on September 28 - October 1,1998. We also had the benefit of the documents referenced.

In our September 10,1997 report, we recommended that the staff utilize a top-down structure to

. develop the assessment process. The staff has adopted such an approach, beginning with a statement of NRC's overall safety mission, progressing to a set of Strategic Performance Areas, and resulting in the development of seven Comerstones of Safety, The staff established three Task Groups to propose improvements to the inspection and Assessment Programs by making them more objective and risk infomied:

A Framework Task Group to develop details of the framework for a more objective, risk-informed, and performance-based approach to assess licensee performance and related bases forinspection activities.

A Risk-Informed Rebaselining inspection Prcgram Task Group to develop a risk-informed baseline inspection program to assess nuclear power plant licensee performance.

An Assessment Task Group to develop a process for use by the staff to make objective conclusions on licensee performance, take actions based on these conclusions in a predictable manner, and effectively communicate these results to the licensees and the public.

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The staff has made significant progress since our March 13,1998 report to the Commission.

The staff is finalizing the Task Groups' reports associated with the overall framework, inspection.

and assessment -including the performance indicators and thresholds for regulatory action, j

l and the Transition Plan.

l The staff is developing a set of performance indicators for evaluating normal power operations l

that are related to risk by accident-sequence logic, are supported by objective data that are l

readily available and scrutable, and are directly measurable or calculable. The relationship of the performance indicators to the risk-informed Inspection Program has been well-developed.

Development of performance indicators for the areas of shutdown operations has been proposed. We understand that this work will take several months to complete.

l The approach of the Risk-Informed Rebaselining inspection Program Task Group appears to be sound. Although the baseline inspection program document is not yet complete, its organization, format, and content give indication that the staff will develop a comprehensive inspection program that is successfully linked to the Comerstones of Safety.

A Transition Plan for implementing the revised Inspection and Assessment Programs has been developed. This Plan contains such elements as milestones, training requirements, and l

communication plans that are essential to a smooth transition. Each of the Regional Offices will have knowledgeable personnel for implementing the Plan. The Plan also provides for several pilot programs that are essential for successfulimplementation of this complex project.

l Important elements that enhanced the progress made in developing the new Inspection and Assessment Programs include:

The use of a top-down structure to develop the assessment process.

Improved coordination among the various NRC Offices, and the Regional Offices.

The involvement of stakeholders in a well-organized public workshop and the continuing interactions with the nuclear industry.

Although substantial progress has been made, much work remains to be done particularly with regard to the integration of the assessment process.

We plan to continue our review of this matter during the February 1999 ACRS meeting.

Sincerely, i

I R. L. Seale Chairman

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References:

1.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Draft report, *NRC Power Reactor Baseline inspection Program," received December 1,1998 (Predecisional), including draft NRC report sections:

• Barrier Integrity Comerstone," dated November 16,1998.

' Mitigating Systems Comerstone," dated November 23,1998.

2.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, draft report, Revision 1.1, prepared by Los Alamos National Laboratory,'Results of the NRC's Assessment Team Task Group Working Sessions, November 1998," updated November 11,1998 (Predecisional).

3.

Memorandum dated November 4,1998, from Ashok C. Thadani, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, NRC, to Samuel J. Collins, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC,

Subject:

Draft Recommendation 6 on Development of a Risk-informed Baseline inspection Based on Review of Individual Plant Examinations (IPEs) and Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) Insights" (Predecisional).

4.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Letter report JCN W6234, Draft #2, prepared by Brookhaven National Laboratory, " Development of a Risk-Informed Baseline inspection Program," dated October 28,1998 (Predecisional).

5.

U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, report prepared by Princeton Resources Associates,

• Plant Specific CDF information to be Considered for Risk-Informed Inspections, Surry 1," dated October 23,1998 (Predecisional).

6.

Memorandum dated October 13,1998, from Thomas T. Martin, Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data, NRC, to Ashok C. Thadani, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research and Samuel J. Collins, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC,

Subject:

Risk-Based Performance Indicator Development Program Plan (Predecisional).

7.

Nuclear Energy Institute, Draft report dated July 9,1998, "A New Regulatory Oversight Process - Toward Risk-informed, Performance-Based Assessment, inspection and Enforcement"(Predecisional).

8.

Report dated September 10,1997, from R. L. Seale, Chairman, ACRS, to Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, HRC,

Subject:

Staff Action Plan to improve the Senior Management Meeting Process.

9.

Report dated March 13,1998, from R. L. Seale, Chairman, ACRS, to Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, NRC,

Subject:

Proposed improvements to the Senior Management Meeting Ptocess.

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