Resolution of Generic Safety Issues: Task IV.F: Financial Disincentives to Safety ( NUREG-0933, Main Report with Supplements 1–35 )
In order to export or print, this web site requires you to enter text displayed in the distorted image on the left, which is known as Captcha, into the text field below the image.
The objective of this task is to enhance public safety through the reduction of disincentives to safety resulting from financial pressures on the utility at the construction, operation, and decommissioning stages.
ITEM IV.F 1: INCREASED OIE SCRUTINY OF THE POWER-ASCENSION TEST PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION
Historical Background
As part of the post-TMI actions,48 the staff was to explore the possible disincentives to safety which could result from financial pressures on the utility during construction and transition to the operating stages.
Safety Significance
It is possible that, in order to avoid delay in commercial operation, some short-cuts may be made which could impact safety.
Possible Solutions
As part of the TMI Action Plan,48 the NRC committed to increase inspections of the startup test program and power ascension test programs at plants that have been completed and are awaiting operating licenses. This included having NRC personnel witness all tests on all shifts.
Accordingly, OIE reported239 that procedures have been issued to increase inspection coverage during power ascension testing. Reactor Inspection Program 2514/01, Revision 2, calls for NRC to witness portions of tests on all shifts and these inspection requirements have been incorporated into the OIE Manual.247 All work required by this item has been Completed.239,379,406
CONCLUSION
This item has been RESOLVED with changes in the NRC procedures that address the scrutiny of power-ascension test programs.
ITEM IV.F.2: EVALUATE THE IMPACTS OF FINANCIAL DISINCENTIVES TO THE SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
DESCRIPTION
Historical Background
The purpose of this TMI Action Plan48 item is to study the recommendations of the NRC/TMI Special Inquiry Group and focus on questions such as:
| (1) | Does the financial status of a utility impact safety or indicate when impacts of a safety nature may occur? |
| (2) | Would continuing evaluation of a licensee's financial condition be a useful method to alert IE to times when the licensee might be tempted to cut corners or are there more pragmatic actions that accomplish this objective? |
| (3) | Will improved communications with economic regulatory agencies, such as NARUC, PUCs, IRS, and FERC sufficiently increase their understand-ing of a sensitivity to safety matters and financial disincentives? |
| (4) | Do the requirements of the various financial regulatory agencies result in reducing nuclear safety and, if so, how could improvements in financial regulation best be achieved? |
Safety Significance
In SECY-81-168B,232 the staff summarized the results of their discussions with various economic regulatory agencies and outlined other possible areas of investigation. Generally, the staff acknowledges that some financial disincentives exist but considers their impact on safety to be small, particularly when considered relative to other regulatory provisions which assure safety, such as plant Technical Specifications that must be complied with to maintain an operating license. Further, any financial benefits that might be associated with taking safety risks are considered small compared to the potential financial impact of plant investment cost and accident cleanup costs associated with safety risks.
Other financial issues which relate to safety have been resolved by separate rulemaking. Specifically, a rule has been published, 10 CFR 50.54(W),197 which requires licensees to maintain, as a minimum, specified amounts of commercially available onsite property damage insurance.
CONCLUSION
This item has been RESOLVED.
REFERENCES
|
