Reactors

“Gambling with safety: NRC downgrades quality assurance of reactor parts”, Nuclear Monitor Article, In a move controversial even with its own staff, NRC released its Final Rule affecting how reactor operators purchase safety-related parts to ensure that safety-related systems, structures and components will perform vital functions during operation or an accident.

Contrary to GAO recommendations made in 1990 for NRC to take “enforcement action” against nuclear utilities in violation of maintaining Quality Assurance and Quality Control standards for “nuclear grade” safety-related reactor components, , the Nuclear Regulatory Commission published in Federal Register Notice a Final Rule creating a classification of “safety-related” parts which can now use lower grade “commercial grade” industrial parts. While the rule change promises to save the nuclear industry hundreds of millions of dollars in  the procurement of nuclear safety-related equipment  NRC staff have filed Differing Professional Opinions (DPO) on Commission amendments contained in the Final Rule identifying that the relaxation “raises serious safety concerns” which will allow nuclear power station operators to install inferior grade equipment in safety-related functions without adequate confidence that the parts will perform their required safety function.”  To see the NRC Final Rule on special treatment requirements for structures, systems and components in nuclear power stations see the Federal Register Notice.