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Home About NRC NRC COVID-19 Update COVID-19 Regulatory Activities for Nuclear Reactors
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Nuclear Reactors COVID-19 Activities:
10 CFR Part 20 | 10 CFR Part 26 | 10 CFR 50.48 | 10 CFR 50.55a Codes & Standards | Owner's Activity Reports | 10 CFR Part 55 | 10 CFR Part 73 | Research & Test Reactors | Resident Inspectors | Licensing Actions

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Guidance for Resident Inspectors

The NRC places the health and safety of our employees as a top priority. With that in mind, we provided guidance to our resident inspectors during this time so that they can protect their own health and safety, support the nation’s efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, and provide onsite NRC inspection when needed.

 

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Highlights

  • Effective May 11, 2023, the NRC returned to full implementation of the inspection and oversight program according to governing documents.

  • Prior to May 11, 2023, the NRC had a modified onsite inspection presence at operating reactors to protect the health of inspectors and site personnel, while maintaining oversight that supports reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety.

  • Inspectors were able to maintain awareness of unit safety performance such as plant conditions and planned activities (e.g., outage work, maintenance activities) from the resident and regional inspectors’ remote work locations via remote access to licensee databases and communications between inspectors and licensee personnel.

  • The Reactor Oversight Program provided flexibility in adjusting the baseline inspection program as needed to focus on safety significant issues during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Public Health Emergency.

  • The NRC implemented this guidance to ensure oversight is maintained and to ensure inspectors are prepared to respond quickly if a safety or security event develops.

Related Communication

  • April 21, 2023 Guidance for Resident Inspectors – "Cancellation of Inspection Programs Memoranda Regarding the Public Health Emergency for the Reactor Safety Program" – The purpose of this memorandum is to cancel the additional guidance in the November 2, 2021 memorandum below, which supplemented the guidance in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2515 “Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program Operations Phase”, and IMC 2515 Appendix E, “Inspection Program Modifications During Pandemics, Epidemics or Other Widespread Illnesses and Diseases” to aid in the performance of the Reactor Oversight Process inspection activities during the Public Health Emergency. Effective May 11, 2023, full implementation of inspection and oversight can be supported.

  • November 2, 2021 Guidance for Resident Inspectors – "Implementation of Inspection Programs Following Re-Entry from the Public Health Emergency for the Reactor Safety Program" – The purpose of this memorandum is to supplement the guidance in MC 2515 "Light-Water Reactor Inspection Program Operations Phase", and IMC 2515 Appendix E, "Inspection Program Modifications During Pandemics, Epidemics or Other Widespread Illnesses and Diseases" to aid in the performance of the Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) inspection activities as COVID-19 conditions and restrictions change across the country. This memorandum also supersedes the April 6, 2020, memorandum, "Updated Implementation of Resident Inspector Site Coverage During COVID-19" (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML20097E538), the May 28, 2020 memorandum, "Inspection Guidance During Transition From Covid-19 Mandatory Telework" (ML20141L766) and the February 1, 2021 memorandum, "Calendar Year 2021 Inspection Guidance During Covid-19 Telework Restrictions."

  • February 1, 2021 Guidance for Resident Inspectors – "Calendar Year 2021 Inspection Guidance During COVID-19 Telework Restrictions" – This purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for the regional offices to continue Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) inspection activities as COVID-19 restrictions continue to change in 2021.

  • May 28, 2020 Guidance for Resident Inspectors – "Inspection Guidance During Transition From COVID-19 Mandatory Telework" – The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance for the regional offices to increase the level of Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) inspection activities as COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease across the country. This memorandum supplements the April 6, 2020, memorandum, "Updated Implementation of Resident Inspector Site Coverage During COVID-19."

  • April 6, 2020 Guidance for Resident Inspectors – "Updated Implementation of Resident Inspector Site Coverage During COVID-19" – This memorandum provides guidance on resident office site coverage and baseline inspection during maximum teleworking for COVID-19. The purpose of this guidance remains to protect the health of inspectors and site personnel, while maintaining oversight that supports reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety.

  • March 27, 2020 Inspection Manual Chapter 2515, Appendix E – "PANDEMICS, EPIDEMICS, AND OTHER WIDESPREAD ILLNESSES OR DISEASES" – This inspection manual chapter provides inspection guidance for modifying the baseline inspection program in the event of a pandemic, epidemic, or other widespread illnesses or diseases.

  • May 25, 2010 Regulatory Information Summary (RIS 2010-04) – "Monitoring the Status of Regulated Activities during a Pandemic" – During a pandemic, the NRC is interested in maintaining situational awareness of the status of its regulated activities and requests that licensees voluntarily inform the staff of any potential impacts on those activities.

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Tuesday, May 16, 2023