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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

33

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)

55

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

77

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!