A Look at Nuclear Science and Technology

Reactor Safety
L. R. Foulke
Module 7.2 NRC Regulation and Licensing

REGULATION AND ADMINISTRATION

Legal basis of NRCs regulatory process including

the content and impact of the:

*Atomic Energy Acts of 1946 and 1954, *Price-Anderson Act, *NEPA 1969, *Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, *Department of Energy Reorganization Act of 1977

on federal regulation of nuclear energy.

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LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

World War II Introduction of Nuclear Energy Atomic Energy Act of 1946 - "McMahon Act"
Complete Federal Control

Atomic Energy Act of 1954

Domestic Commercialization "Atoms for Peace" Internationally Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]
Oversee Development Establish Regulation

Congressional Oversight by JCAE

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Atomic Energy Act of 1954

... the utilization of special nuclear material will ... provide adequate protection to the health and safety of the public. 1961, U.S. Supreme Court decision established that adequate protection is equivalent to no undue risk It is presumed that a nuclear power plant in compliance with federal regulations provides adequate protection
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LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

PRICE-ANDERSON ACT
First passed in 1957 for nuclear accidents
Established liability limits and no-fault insurance Provides financial protection for licensees Originally seen as necessary incentive for private production
$60 million from private companies Government underwrites additional $500 million

Renewed many times Last renewed in 2005 by Congress

Ensures $10 billion from industry coverage Claims above $10 billion covered by Federal Government

In 43 years, insurance pools have paid $151 million in claims

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LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT OF 1969
Requires Environmental Impact statement [EIS] for:
"Every major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment"

Issuing of a reactor license considered a major federal action requiring an EIS (Calvert Cliffs) EIS Must Address:
Environmental Impact of Action Unavoidable Adverse Effects Alternatives Short-Term Use Vs Long-Term Productivity Irreversible/Irretrievable Resource Commitments

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LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

LEGISLATION To break off the promotional from the regulatory function, the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 created: Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC]
Regulation

Energy Research & Development Admin [ERDA]

Promotional

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LEGISLATION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION

LEGISLATION
Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977
Department of Energy [DOE]
AEC Basic Nuclear-Power R&D Activities Operation of National Laboratories Other Energy-Related R&D DOE Facilities Exempt from NRC Regulations Except DOE-Funded / Commercial Appl Many DOE Reqctors Comparable / Identical

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LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

LEGISLATION
Legislation Written in General Terms Agency Promulgates Rules / Regulations

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

50 "Titles" "Title 10 (Energy)" for AEC / NRC / DOE Parts 0-199 Part 0 Conduct of Employees Part 1 Organization / General Information Part 2 Rules for Licensing Proceeding Part 20 Radiation Protection - Standards / MPC

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LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Part 50 Licensing of Utilization and Production Facilities Construction Permit / Operating License Appendices w/ Requirement / Guidance on:
General design Criteria Quality Assurance [QA] Emergency Planning Meeting ALARA Criteria Containment Leakage Acceptance Testing Modeling for ECCS Evaluation Standardized Designs / Pre-Approval of Sites

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GENERAL DESIGN CRITERIA (App. A to 10 CFR 50)

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. Overall Requirements Protection by Multiple Fission Product Barriers Protection and Reactivity Control Systems Fluid Systems Reactor Containment, and Fuel and Radioactivity Control

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Example of General Design Criteria

II. Protection by Multiple Fission Product Barriers Criterion 10Reactor design. The reactor
core and associated coolant, control, and protection systems shall be designed with appropriate margin to assure that specified acceptable fuel design limits are not exceeded during any condition of normal operation, including the effects of anticipated operational occurrences.

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LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Part 55 Operator Licenses
Required for All Who Operate / Supervise Plant Reactor Operator [RO] Senior Reactor Operator [SRO] Initial License Examination Written Practical (Oral "Walk-Around" / Plant Simulator) Requalification Training Plant Operation Annual Examination (By Plant / NRC Evaluation)
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LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS Part 52 Licenses, Certifications and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants Part 54 Requirements for Renewal of Operating License for Nuclear Power Plants Part 73 Physical Protection
Security Measures Against Sabotage / Theft

Part 100

Reactor Siting Criteria

Evaluation of Suitability of Reactor Sites Seismic / Geologic / Other

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REACTOR SITING 10CFR100

Qualification of a Reactor Site Radiological Consequences Exclusion distance In 2 hours exposure 25 Rem whole body 300 Rem thyroid Low Population Zone Population Center Distance
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LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

REGULATORY GUIDES AND STANDARDS
Regulatory Guides
Acceptable Methods for Implementing 10CFR Techniques for Specific Problems General Guidance for License Applicants

Consensus Standards
Codification of Industrial Practice Developed by Committees w/ Wide Experience ANSI / ANS / IEEE /ASME / Other Sponsorship Voluntary Unless License / Other Commitment Considered the equivalent of a regulation

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Safety Analysis Report chapter titles

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Introduction and general description of plant Site characteristics 10. Steam and power conversion system 11. Radioactive waste management

Design of structures, components, 12. Radiation protection equipment, and systems 13. Conduct of operations Reactor Reactor coolant system and connected systems Engineered safety features Instrumentation and controls Electric power Auxiliary systems
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14. Initial test program 15. Accident analysis 16. Technical specification 17. Quality assurance 18. Human Factors 19. Probabilistic Risk Assessment and Severe Accident Analysis

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

The Commission
Five Members / Fixed Five Year Terms Appointed by President / Confirmed by Senate Chair Appointed by President Independent of Other Departments / Agencies Kemeny/TMI-2 Recommendations
Single Administrator Legislation / Not Enacted

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Executive Director for Operations [EDO] REGULATORY STAFF Nuclear Reactor Regulation [NRR] Historically: License Safety/Env Evaluation Currently: Amendments / Inspection / Assessment Nuclear Regulatory Research [RES] Research "Confirmatory to Regulation" WASH-1400 / LOFT / NUREG-1150 / TMI-2 Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards [NMSS] Fuel Facility Safety Reactor / Fuel Facility Safeguards Waste Management
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGULATORY STAFF
Regional Offices
Phila / Chicago / Atlanta / Dallas / San Francisco Inspection / Resident Inspectors Operator Licensing (10CFR 55)

Office of Enforcement
Actions for Non-Compliance
Civil Penalties / Fines Criminal Penalties
(~ 2 inspectors / station) Daily Station Oversight:

Penalties Common Post-TMI-2

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Monitor Assess Report