ML19015A052
| ML19015A052 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/25/2019 |
| From: | Ho Nieh Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Baker B NRC/OIG/AIGA |
| Krepel S, 301-302-0399 | |
| References | |
| OEDO-18-00643, OIG-15-A-06 | |
| Download: ML19015A052 (5) | |
Text
January 25, 2019 MEMORANDUM TO: Dr. Brett M. Baker Assistant Inspector General for Audits Office of the Inspector General FROM: Ho K. Nieh, Director /RA by Brian McDermott for/
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
UPDATES ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERALS AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSIONS OVERSIGHT OF SPENT FUEL POOLS (OIG-15-A-06)
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff received the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report OIG-15-A-06, Audit of NRCs Oversight of Spent Fuel Pools, dated February 10, 2015. In a memorandum dated March 18, 2015 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML15056A651), the staff described specific actions that the NRC will take to address the four recommendations in OIG-15-A-06. The staffs proposed closure of Recommendations 2 and 4 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16062A077) was accepted by the OIG in letters dated May 18, 2016, and June 10, 2016 (ADAMS Accession Nos. ML16139A055 and ML16162A052). As described in the enclosure, January 2019 Update on Actions To Address the Office of the Inspector Generals Spent Fuel Pool Audit Recommendations (OIG-15-A-06), the staff now recommends closure of Recommendation 3. Recommendation 1 remains on track to be closed out by the end of 2019.
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Chairman Svinicki Commissioner Baran Commissioner Burns Commissioner Caputo Commissioner Wright SECY CONTACT: Scott T. Krepel, NRR/DSS 301-302-0399
ML19015A052 *via e-mail NRR-106 OFFICE NRR/DSS/SNPB NRR/DSS/SNPB TECH EDITOR*
NAME SKrepel KWood JDougherty DATE 1/16/2019 1/16/2019 1/11/2019 OFFICE NRR/DSS/SNPB/BC NRR/DSS/D NRR/D NAME RLukes MGavrilas HNieh (BMcDermott for)
DATE 1/17/2019 1/18/2019 1/25/2019 JANUARY 2019 UPDATE ON ACTIONS TO ADDRESS THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERALS SPENT FUEL POOL AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS (OIG-15-A-06)
Recommendation 1 Planned Action:
Upon a satisfactory conclusion to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) review of Nuclear Energy Institute report (NEI) 12-16, incorporate this detailed guidance into NRC internal processes through a regulatory guide (RG) and through revisions to NUREG-0800, Standard Review Plan for the Review of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants.
January 2019 Status Update:
NEI 12-16, Revison 3, Guidance for Performing Criticality Analyses of Fuel Storage at Light-Water Reactor Power Plants, dated March 2018 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML18088B400) references an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) methodology to determine the bias and uncertainty for the simulated depletion of the fuel. The staff has completed its review of the EPRI methodology and issued a draft safety evaluation for the EPRI/NEI review. The staff held a public meeting with EPRI/NEI in December 2018 to discuss the proposed conditions of approval. Based on the results of that meeting, the staff plans to issue the draft RG for public comment in the second quarter of 2019 and to publish the final RG by the end of 2019.
CONTACT: Kent A. Wood, NRR/DSS 301-415-4120 Recommendation 3 Planned Action:
Use the generic letter (GL) process to collect information and determine which regulatory actions are necessary to ensure compliance with NRC requirements regarding the monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools, and then initiate the appropriate regulatory actions.
January 2019 Status Update:
The agency issued GL 2016-01, Monitoring of Neutron-Absorbing Materials in Spent Fuel Pools, dated April 7, 2016, which requests information on the monitoring of neutron-absorbing materials in spent fuel pools (ADAMS Accession No. ML16097A169). The NRC staff completed its evaluation of all submitted responses and closed out GL 2016-01 for all licensees. The staff has conducted several followup inspections to verify the adequacy of corrective actions taken by specific licensees with degraded neutron-absorbing materials. The staff will perform additional inspections as needed, based on the progress being made by licensees that are implementing long-term resolutions.
Enclosure
The staff has also identified specific engagement and oversight activities that are appropriate to ensure that the problems identified in the GL 2016-01 do not recur. On November 27, 2018, the NRC issued an effectiveness review memorandum that discusses the staffs evaluations, findings, and actions associated with GL 2016-01 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18317A374).
This action is complete, and Recommendation 3 should be closed.
CONTACT: Scott T. Krepel, NRR/DSS 301-302-0399