Nuclear regulation

Technical Report · Sun Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5980688

This paper reports that in the wake of the 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials became increasingly worried about the adequacy of maintenance programs at utilities. Over 10 years later, GAO found that while both NRC and the nuclear industry view maintenance as crucial to safe, efficient, and reliable nuclear power plant operations, they have been unable to agree on the best way to ensure continuing improvements in maintenance. The debate hinges on whether NRC needs to establish more comprehensive maintenance regulations or whether NRC should endorse the industry's program and the specific plant areas and systems that would be included. Regardless of the decision on the need for additional comprehensive regulations, GAO believes that NRC must have a mechanism to ensure effective maintenance at nuclear power plants in the future. To do so, NRC could integrate performance indicators into its regular inspection program or periodically inspect maintenance at nuclear plants; however, NRC has no plans to take either action.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
• OSTI ID: 5980688
• Report Number(s): GAO/RCED-91-36
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210700* -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Regulation & Licensing
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220400 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Control Systems
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
INFORMATION NEEDS
INSPECTION
MAINTENANCE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PLANNING
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
REGULATIONS
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS