Nuclear Plant Operation under NRC Reactor Oversight Program

Nuclear Plant Operation under NRC Reactor Oversight Program Jim Hill Nuclear Management Company

Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Safe – Reliable – Predictable – Leader

Adapted from: EED-99 -01 Recommendations for the Implementation of Selected Leading Indicators of Performance at Nuclear Power Production Plants, ASQ, 1999

Recognition of Need to Improve • NRC performance determination previously implemented by Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) • In late 1994 NRC conducted in-depth review of SALP process. Issues noted: – Lagging…consequences initiated late, sometimes after performance decline had already been turned – Inconsistent regulatory response – Determination sometimes driven by upper management bias with incomplete data Bottom Line: The process the NRC used to determine licensee performance needed to be more effective

Revised Reactor Oversight Process Developed with input from plant owners/operators, facilitated by NEI • Baseline Inspection – Finding Significance Determination Process (Green Red) • Performance Measures – Performance thresholds established (Green – Reported on a quarterly basis Red) • Measures “rolled up” with inspection results for periodic performance assessment • Regulatory Response matrix – Additional and more intrusive Inspection – Continued degradation in performance leads to shut down Piloted at 8 nuclear plants prior to full industry use

Positive Results • Industry Performance in areas measured has improved • Rigorous process for performance measures – Ensure current measures are adequate and provide value • Predictable Regulator Action – Data Driven • Accuracy of performance data has improved – Problems found early on in data reporting – NRC cannot accomplish performance-based oversight without accurate data…poor reporting is serious issue • Periodic review and improvement to ROP is ongoing. – Moving to a new set of equipment performance measures – Adequacy of Security and facility protection from external threat continues to be a priority

Example – Hypothetical Nuclear Site NRC ROP Indicators – 2 nd Quarter 2005