ML112730058

Memorandum, Issuance of White Paper Entitled, NRC and Licensee Actions in Response to New Information from a Third Party

ML112730058
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/08/2012
From:	Marilyn Evans Division of Operating Reactor Licensing
To:	Leeds E, Frederick Brown, Croteau R, Galloway M, Hiland P, Kennedy K, Mcginty T, Darrell Roberts, Ruland W, David Skeen, Stephanie West, Giitter J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Engineering, Division of License Renewal, NRC/NRR/DRA, NRC/NRR/DSS, Division of Inspection and Regional Support, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Japan Lessons-Learned Division, Division Reactor Projects I, Division Reactor Projects II, Division Reactor Projects III, NRC/RGN-IV/DRP
Gibson, Lauren, NRR/DORL/LPL4, 415-1056
Shared Package
ML112730055	List: ML112730058
References
Download: ML112730058 (4)

Text

March 8, 2012

MEMORANDUM TO: Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation And Those on the Enclosed List FROM: Michele G. Evans, Director /RA/ Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

ISSUANCE OF WHITE PAPER ENTITLED, "NRC AND LICENSEE ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO NEW INFORMATION FROM A THIRD PARTY" Enclosed is a white paper entitled, "NRC and Licensee Actions in Response to New Information from a Third Party." It is a compilation of existing guidance that describes how the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and licensees are expected to respond to information from a third party, such as the U.S. Geological Survey. The purpose of the white paper is to clarify the staff's understanding of the issue and to provide a convenient reference for NRC staff.

The NRC has some requirements and guidance relevant to licensee consideration of new information developed by a third party that could affect the plant. Nevertheless, the NRC has no explicit requirement for licensees to address information developed by a third party. This paper describes how licensees consider third-party information under existing, applicable regulations or guidance. The paper also describes potential actions that the NRC could take to ensure licensee consideration of new third-party information. Information that does not impact safe plan operations may not be covered by any process. Therefore, licensees are unlikely to be overwhelmed by consideration of third party information in accordance with existing regulatory processes.

The NRR Division of Operating Reactor Licensing (DORL) plans to update Office Instruction LIC-100, "Control of Licensing Bases for Operating Reactors," to provide general guidance from and reference to this white paper. DORL also plans to post the white paper on its SharePoint and internal Internet sites. The NRR Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Generic Communication and Power Uprate Branches are developing an information notice related to this issue. DORL proposed, and NRR approved, a technical session entitled, "The Applicability and

CONTACT: Lauren Gibson, NRR/DORL (301) 415-1056 Use of Third-Party Information for Operating Reactors," for the 2012 NRC Regulatory Information Conference. Furthermore, the Division of Inspection and Regional Support is leading the effort to develop an event tree describing the expected actions related to new information, third-party or otherwise.

All of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) technical divisions and regional offices received the draft white paper for comment. The Office of the General Counsel has also reviewed the paper. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Gibson at 301-415-1056 or by electronic mail at Lauren.Gibson@nrc.gov.

Enclosure:

As stated

MEMORANDUM TO THOSE ON THE ENCLOSED LIST DATED:

SUBJECT:

ISSUANCE OF WHITE PAPER ENTITLED, "NRC AND LICENSEE ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO NEW INFORMATION FROM A THIRD PARTY" Mail StopWilliam Ruland, Director, Division of Safety Systems, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-10A1 Melanie Galloway, Acting Director, Division of License Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-11F1 Patrick Hiland, Director, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-09E3 Joseph Giitter, Director, Division of Risk Assessment, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-10C15 Frederick Brown, Director, Division of Inspection and Regional Support, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-07E1 Timothy McGinty, Director, Division of Policy and Rulemaking, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-12E1 David Skeen, Director, Japan Lessons Learned Project Directorate, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O-9E3 Darrell J. Roberts, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, Region I RI Rick Croteau, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, Region II RII Steven West, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, Region III RIII Kriss Kennedy, Director, Division of Reactor Projects, Region IV RIV

Pkg ML112730055, Memo ML112730058, White Paper ML112730379 *by e-mail dated OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA OGC- NLO subject to comments NAME LKGibson JBurkhardt MSpencer DATE 10/14/11 10/14/11 12/7/11 OFFICE QTE NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC NRR/DORL/D NAME JDougherty* MMarkley MEvans DATE 1/9/11 2/21/12 3/8/12