Backfitting guidelines

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6721584

Allison, D P; Conran, J M; Trottier, C A

The backfitting process is the process by which the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) decides whether to issue new or revised requirements or staff positions to licensees of nuclear power reactor facilities. Backfitting is expected to occur and is an inherent part of the regulatory process. However, it is to be done only after formal, systematic review to ensure that changes are properly justified and suitably defined. Requirements for proper justification of backfits and information requests are provided by two NRC rules, Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 50.109 and 50.54(f). Three types of backfits are recognized. Cost-justified substantial safety improvements require backfit analyses and findings of substantial safety improvement and justified costs. Two types of exceptions, compliance exceptions and adequate protection exceptions, do not require findings of substantial safety improvements and costs are not considered. However, they are still backfits and they require documented evaluations to support use of the exceptions. Information requests (as opposed to backfits) require an analysis of the burden to be imposed to ensure that they are justified in view of the potential safety significance of the information requested. NRC procedures on backfitting include the Charter of the Committee to Review Generic Requirements for generic communications and NRC Manual Chapter 0514 and individual office procedures for plant-specific communications. Considerable guidance has been developed, control mechanisms are in place, and training has been provided to NRC and industry personnel.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Office for Analysis and Evaluation of Operational Data
• Sponsoring Organization: NRC
• OSTI ID: 6721584
• Report Number(s): NUREG-1409; ON: TI90015172
• 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
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
LICENSING
MODIFICATIONS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR LICENSING
REACTOR SAFETY
REGULATIONS
SAFETY
SURVEYS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
US NRC
US ORGANIZATIONS