1 Managing Technical Support Organizations at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Peter B....
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Transcript of 1 Managing Technical Support Organizations at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Peter B....
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Managing Technical Support Managing Technical Support Organizations at the U.S. Organizations at the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Nuclear Regulatory CommissionCommission
Dr. Peter B. Lyons, Commissioner
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
IAEA International Conference on the Challenges Faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations
in Enhancing Nuclear SafetyApril 23-27, 2007
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The Need for Strong Regulatory The Need for Strong Regulatory Technical, Scientific, and Technical, Scientific, and
Research CapabilityResearch Capability
““What are the facts? Again and What are the facts? Again and again and again – what are the again and again – what are the facts … and to how many decimal facts … and to how many decimal places? places?
You pilot always into an unknown You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!” Get the facts!”
Robert HeinleinRobert Heinlein
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Facts versus TheoryFacts versus Theory
Where is Laser Fusion today?Where is Laser Fusion today?
NOVA Laser 1984
National Ignition Facility 2004
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Types of SupportTypes of Support
ResearchResearch LicensingLicensing InspectionInspection Other Support Other Support
(e.g. administrative)(e.g. administrative)
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NRC’s Office of Nuclear NRC’s Office of Nuclear Regulatory ResearchRegulatory Research
Coordinates and Manages Support Coordinates and Manages Support from from – National LaboratoriesNational Laboratories– UniversitiesUniversities– Private Commercial ContractorsPrivate Commercial Contractors– Standards CommitteesStandards Committees– National Research CentersNational Research Centers– International Research CentersInternational Research Centers
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Diversity in National Diversity in National LabsLabs
ArgonneArgonne BrookhavenBrookhaven IdahoIdaho Los AlamosLos Alamos Lawrence LivermoreLawrence Livermore Oak RidgeOak Ridge Pacific NorthwestPacific Northwest SandiaSandia
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Digital Digital Instrumentation and Instrumentation and
ControlsControls TodayToday – Diversity is needed to – Diversity is needed to
provide access to expertiseprovide access to expertise
TomorrowTomorrow – Centralized expertise – Centralized expertise shared among multiple industries shared among multiple industries and government agencies?and government agencies?
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Extending Capabilities Extending Capabilities Using Mulitple TSOsUsing Mulitple TSOs
Three separate National Three separate National LaboratoriesLaboratories
Conducting a spectrum of different Conducting a spectrum of different tests to determine effects of water tests to determine effects of water chemistry on PWR emergency chemistry on PWR emergency sump filter performancesump filter performance
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Who Pays for TSO Who Pays for TSO work?work?
90% of NRC total budget 90% of NRC total budget authority given by authority given by Congress is recovered Congress is recovered by charging fees to by charging fees to licensees and applicantslicensees and applicants
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Meeting the Challenge Meeting the Challenge TodayToday
Existing Nuclear Power PlantsExisting Nuclear Power Plants– Materials and Aging IssuesMaterials and Aging Issues– Safety Questions such as PWR sumpsSafety Questions such as PWR sumps
New Nuclear Power Plant DesignsNew Nuclear Power Plant Designs– Severe Accident Design FeaturesSevere Accident Design Features– New Design CertificationsNew Design Certifications
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (geo-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (geo-seismic)seismic)
U.S. Geological Survey (geo-seismic)U.S. Geological Survey (geo-seismic)
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To Meet the Challenge To Meet the Challenge TomorrowTomorrow
Next Generation Nuclear PlantNext Generation Nuclear Plant Global Nuclear Energy Global Nuclear Energy
Partnership (GNEP)Partnership (GNEP) Center for Nuclear Waste Center for Nuclear Waste
Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA)Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA)
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Avoiding Avoiding Conflicts-of-InterestConflicts-of-Interest
Maintain Public Confidence in an Maintain Public Confidence in an Independent RegulatorIndependent Regulator
Explicit Contract Language Binds Explicit Contract Language Binds TSOsTSOs
DOE use of large engineering firms to DOE use of large engineering firms to manage National Laboratories manage National Laboratories increases the challenge of avoiding increases the challenge of avoiding conflicts-of-interest while maintaining conflicts-of-interest while maintaining NRC access to needed capabilitiesNRC access to needed capabilities
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Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts
Great Value in Collaborations of Great Value in Collaborations of International Regulatory Bodies and International Regulatory Bodies and Associated TSOsAssociated TSOs
Needs of Each Regulatory Body Must Needs of Each Regulatory Body Must Determine TSO Support ArrangementsDetermine TSO Support Arrangements
International Commitment to Research International Commitment to Research Collaboration Must ContinueCollaboration Must Continue
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THANK YOU!THANK YOU!