Recent Changes and Challenges

Robert Lewis, Director Division of Preparedness and Response

(301) 415-3567 robert.lewis@nrc.gov

National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference April 23, 2012

2011

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Regulated Community • Operating reactors: 104 • Materials licensees: ~22,000 • Uranium recovery licensees: 8 • Fuel cycle licensees: 13

Recent Accomplishments • Core mission responsibilities • New reactor milestones • Safety culture policy statement • SOARCA • Completed EP rule and guidance

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Hydrogen Explosions

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NRC Lessons Learned Review • Commission directed a methodical and

systematic review of the safety of U.S. facilities in light of events in Japan

• Near-Term Task Force review completed July 2011 (www.nrc.gov)

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Prioritization and Impacts of Implementing Lessons Learned

NRC will strive not to displace ongoing work that has greater safety benefit, is necessary for continued safe operation, or other existing high priority work.

Subsequent to the NTTF Report, SECY-11-0137 categorized recommendations into three tiers 7

Fukushima Lessons Learned Review

• Seismic and flooding protection

• Prolonged loss of AC power • Containment venting • Spent fuel pool cooling • Severe accident procedures • Emergency preparedness • Regulatory framework for

low probability, high consequence events

• Greater attention to defense-in-depth for low probability events

• Seismically induced fires and floods

• Hydrogen control mitigation inside buildings

• EP topics for multiunit events and prolonged SBO

• EP topics on decision making, radiation monitoring, and public education

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• Multi-unit staffing, dose assessment, equipment/facilities, training/exercises

• Protective equipment requirements • Command and control • Recovery and Re-entry • ERDS transmission • Radiation monitoring network • KI distribution • EP Zone size

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EP Tier 2 and 3 Issues

Communications with Stakeholders

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Research • Selected issues

– SOARCA – Level 3 probabilistic risk assessment

(PRA) – Cancer risk study – Spent fuel pool scoping study – Seismic and tsunami research

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Summary

• Core mission priorities • Fukushima lessons learned

• Implementation focus for 2012

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