Text

Supporting Statement - Hptf
	ML24170A847
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/18/2024
From:	Watkins H; NRC/RES/DRA/HFRB
To:	;
References
	Download: ML24170A847 (1)
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SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF)

(3150-XXXX)

NEW Abstract A. JUSTIFICATION

1. Need For the Collection of Information Much of the basis for current NRC Human Factors Engineering (HFE) guidance comes from data from research conducted in other domains (e.g., aviation, defense),

qualitative data from operational experience in nuclear power plants, and a limited amount from empirical studies in a nuclear environment. The former Office of New Reactors (NRO) issued a user need for the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) to update its human factors (HF) review guidance with regards to emerging technologies (User Need NRO-2012-007) and more recently the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Regulation (NRR) issued a follow-on user need with the same purpose (User Need NRR-2019-008).

In the spring of 2012, the NRC sponsored a project to procure a low-cost simulator to empirically measure and study human performance aspects of control room operations to address the human performance concerns related to current as well as new and advanced control room designs and operations. Using this simulator, the Human Factors and Reliability Branch (HFRB) in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) Division of Risk Assessment (DRA) began a program of research known as the NRC Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) to collect empirical human performance data with the purpose of measuring and ultimately better understanding the various cognitive and physical elements that support safe control room operation.

With the Commissions issue of SRM-M061020, directing the NRC to improve the state-of-the-art of human reliability analysis (HRA) and later the issue of SRM-M090204b to ensure that our data programs support these HRA initiatives, the HPTF was established with the dual HF and HRA data missions. The intent of the HPTF is to design experiments that balance domain realism and laboratory control sufficiently to collect systematic, yet meaningful, human performance data related to execution of common nuclear main control room (MCR) tasks. Recognizing the essential role of data to our HF and HRA programs, the HPTF aims to capture data from both novice and operational populations and conduct research specifically targeted to the nuclear domain.

In order to ensure that our laboratory is meeting the research needs discussed above, the HPTF seeks to obtain OMB approval of a generic clearance to collect empirical data to measure and contribute to our understanding of cognitive and physical elements supporting interactions with state-of-the-art technology and safe control room operation.

2. Agency Use and Practical Utility of Information The NRC Human Performance Test Facility (HPTF) was established to collect empirical human performance data to measure and better understand the cognitive and physical elements supporting interactions with technology and safe control room operation. The HPTF seeks generic clearance from OMB to collect data to address gaps in human factors (HF) and human reliability analysis (HRA) research in the nuclear domain. The HPTF enables the NRC to conduct responsive research to support the informational needs of our users (e.g., NRR HFE technical reviewers and HRA analysts). For example, these HF and HRA data are essential to ensure that our HFE guidance documents and HRA methods support the review and evaluation of state-of-the-art HF programs (as required by 10 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 50.34(f)(2)(iii)).

The HPTF will only submit a collection for approval under this generic clearance if it meets the following concerns:

The collection will contribute to our understanding of the various cognitive and physical elements that facilitate interactions with state-of-the-art technology and/or support safe control room operation, The collections are voluntary, The collections are low burden for the agency and the respondents based on estimated burden hours and number of respondents, Any collection is targeted to the solicitation of responses from NRC staff and, Information collected is anonymous and cannot be traced back to the respondent.

The types of collections this generic clearance covers includes but are not limited to:

Cognitive laboratory studies, such as those used to characterize system perceptions or assess usability and performance outcomes of system, and Online quantitative and/or qualitative surveys (e.g., assessing perceptions of technology or situation awareness and performance-based metrics), and In-person observation testing (e.g., website or software usability tests).

3. Reduction of Burden Through Information Technology Respondents will submit the requested information using fillable-fillable forms and/or computer-readable formatted forms. It is estimated that approximately 90% of the potential responses are filed electronically. In conjunction with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA), HPTF collection of information will primarily

involve the use of electronic techniques such as web-based forms that will be shared, accessed, and completed online. This web-based method of collection and record management will also significantly minimize the likelihood of errors that may arise as the result of data transcription and transferring. Paper-based forms will not be used for data collection. Anticipated online tools to be used for information collection include survey platforms such as Microsoft Forms or Qualtrics.

4. Effort to Identify Duplication and Use Similar Information No sources of similar information are available. There is no duplication of requirements. Much of the basis for current NRC Human Factors Engineering (HFE) guidance comes from data from research conducted in other domains (e.g., aviation, defense), qualitative data from operational experience in nuclear power plants, and a limited amount from empirical studies in a nuclear environment. This research is required to address this dearth in the literature.

5. Effort to Reduce Small Business Burden Not applicable.

6. Consequences to Federal Program or Policy Activities if the Collection Is Not Conducted or Is Conducted Less Frequently If the collection is not conducted, HPTF will be unable to collect empirical human data with the purpose of measuring and ultimately better understanding the various cognitive and physical elements that support safe control room operation.

Additionally, NRC will be unable to produce research contributions in accordance with the Commissions issuances of SRM-M061020 and SRM-M090204b, which direct agency staff to improve the state-of-the-art of human reliability analysis (HRA) and data programs. The proposed schedule for collecting data is the minimum frequency necessary to ensure staff will continue to conduct research in a manner that will facilitate continuous monitoring, evaluation, and updates to HRA methodologies and license review guidance to stay on par with the state-of-the-art technology advancements being proposed for implementation in current and future nuclear power plant control rooms.

7. Circumstances Which Justify Variation from OMB Guidelines Not applicable.

8. Consultations Outside the NRC Opportunity for public comment on the information collection requirements for this clearance package has been published in the Federal Register.

9. Payment or Gift to Respondents Not applicable.

10. Confidentiality of Information Confidential and proprietary information is protected in accordance with NRC regulations at 10 CFR 9.17(a) and 10 CFR 2.390(b). However, no information normally considered confidential or proprietary is requested from respondents.

The only PII associated with any of the information collected will be part of the respondent scheduling. That information will never be stored or accessed from any of the machines where the research activities are conducted. It is not technologically possible to access the scheduling information on the data collection systems as the NRC policy is that the simulator and all associated computers are on a standalone network that is not connected to the NRC network or the internet more broadly.

Therefore, it is not technologically or practically feasible to associate any study data with any respondent PII. Additionally, any PII associated with this information collection used for scheduling purposes would be on the NRC network and would be covered by the NRCs existing SORN.

11. Justification for Sensitive Questions Not applicable

12. Estimated Burden and Burden Hour Cost TABLE 1: ESTIMATED BURDEN FOR DURATION OF GENERIC CLEARANCE (3 YEARS)

Requirement Description No. of Respondents Responses per Respondent Number of Responses Burden Hours per