United States Nuclear Regulatory United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Perspectives on Commission Perspectives on

Technical Support OrganizationsTechnical Support OrganizationsIAEA Meeting on TSO ChallengesIAEA Meeting on TSO Challenges

Aix-en-Provence, FranceAix-en-Provence, FranceApril 26, 2007April 26, 2007

Mark Cunningham, DirectorMark Cunningham, DirectorDivision of Fuels, Engineering, and Radiological ResearchDivision of Fuels, Engineering, and Radiological Research

Office of Nuclear Regulatory ResearchOffice of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 22

BackgroundBackground

The NRC makes use of a variety of technical support The NRC makes use of a variety of technical support organizationsorganizations

The Energy Reorganization Act of 1975 establishes the The Energy Reorganization Act of 1975 establishes the fundamental role of a within-regulatory-agency TSO – fundamental role of a within-regulatory-agency TSO – the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research – for:the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research – for:– ““developing recommendations deemed necessary developing recommendations deemed necessary

for performance of its licensing and related for performance of its licensing and related regulatory functions,” andregulatory functions,” and

– ““engaging in research necessary for the engaging in research necessary for the performance of its licensing and related regulatory performance of its licensing and related regulatory functions.”functions.”

Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 33

BackgroundBackground

The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define The NRC’s “Principles of Good Regulation” define standards for all of its work, including its research standards for all of its work, including its research program.program.– IndependenceIndependence– OpennessOpenness– EfficiencyEfficiency– ClarityClarity– ReliabilityReliability

Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 44

The Functions of NRC’sThe Functions of NRC’sOffice of Nuclear Regulatory Office of Nuclear Regulatory

ResearchResearch Confirming the technical basis for regulatory decisionsConfirming the technical basis for regulatory decisions Assessing technical issuesAssessing technical issues Developing methods and toolsDeveloping methods and tools Looking for emerging technologies and issuesLooking for emerging technologies and issues Translating technical information into regulatory Translating technical information into regulatory

guidanceguidance

Issues Facing TSOsIssues Facing TSOs 55

Confirming the Technical BasisConfirming the Technical Basis

fire barrier performancefire barrier performance– Potential issues with Potential issues with

performance of performance of Thermo-Lag and other Thermo-Lag and other barrier systemsbarrier systems

– Confirmatory studiesConfirmatory studies HEMYC performanceHEMYC performance

Cable performanceCable performance– Potential for multi-Potential for multi-

conductor cable failures conductor cable failures in firesin fires

– Confirmatory studiesConfirmatory studies CAROLFIRE testsCAROLFIRE tests

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Assessing Technical IssuesAssessing Technical Issues

Chemical effectsChemical effects– ACRS identified issueACRS identified issue

Potential chemical Potential chemical interactions interactions between between containment spray containment spray additives and additives and insulationinsulation

– NRC studiesNRC studies Chemical Chemical

interactionsinteractions Sump performanceSump performance Downstream effectsDownstream effects

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Developing Methods and ToolsDeveloping Methods and Tools

Human reliability analysis Human reliability analysis methods for radioactive methods for radioactive material usesmaterial uses– Job aidsJob aids– Training toolsTraining tools

SPAR modelsSPAR models– Significance Significance

determination processdetermination process– Generic safety issuesGeneric safety issues– License amendment License amendment

reviewsreviews– Incident investigationIncident investigation

Unsafe acts

Local workplace factors

Organizational & macro-ergonomic factors

InjuriesHazards

Defenses

Latentconditionpathways

Causes

Investigation

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Looking for Emerging IssuesLooking for Emerging Issues

Reactor operations beyond 60 yearsReactor operations beyond 60 years– Investigation of, and proactive response to, materials Investigation of, and proactive response to, materials

issues that could emerge after 60 yearsissues that could emerge after 60 years

2

Overall Objective

To identify components that may be expected to undergodegradation, so that mitigation actions may be implemented before

significant challenges to structural integrity and safety arise.

“Dam

age

”

Time

NDE Resolution Limit

“Now”

Reactive Proactiveactions

Structural Integrity Limit

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Developing Regulatory GuidanceDeveloping Regulatory Guidance

Regulatory GuideRegulatory Guide– Translates technical Translates technical

information into one information into one acceptable approach for acceptable approach for meeting requirementsmeeting requirements

Recent improvementsRecent improvements– Update of 29 guidesUpdate of 29 guides– Technical topics includeTechnical topics include

Site-specific seismic Site-specific seismic ground motionground motion

Environmental Environmental qualification of I&C qualification of I&C systemssystems

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SummarySummary

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research was The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research was established to provide a within-NRC capability forestablished to provide a within-NRC capability for– Independent technical insightIndependent technical insight– Issue assessmentIssue assessment– Method and tool developmentMethod and tool development– Future issue identificationFuture issue identification– Regulatory guidance promulgationRegulatory guidance promulgation

End of PresentationEnd of Presentation

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