In a nuclear power reactor, an operational mode corresponds to any one inclusive combination of core reactivity condition, power level, and average reactor coolant temperature.
The period during which a generating unit, transmission line, or other facility is out of service. Outages may be forced or scheduled, and full or partial.
An inspection to examine the circumstances surrounding an operational problem or event occurring at a nuclear plant.
That branch of medicine dealing with the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radiant energy, including x-rays and radioisotopes.
A long-term storage condition for a permanently shutdown nuclear power plant. During SAFSTOR, radioactive contamination decreases substantially, making subsequent decontamination and demolition easier and reducing the amount of LLW requiring disposal.
A gaseous chemical element that does not readily enter into chemical combination with other elements. An inert gas. Examples are helium, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
Is the maximum earthquake potential for which certain structures, systems, and components, important to safety, are designed to sustain and remain functional.
A working environment in which employees are encouraged to report safety concerns without fear of criticism or retaliation from their supervisors because they raised the issue.
A succession of nuclides, each of which transforms by radioactive disintegration into the next until a stable nuclide results. The first member is called the parent, the intermediate members are called daughters, and the final stable member is called the end product.
The term referring to a facility’s system, structure, component, or accident sequence that exceeds a predetermined limit for contributing to the risk associated with the facility. The term also describes a level of risk exceeding a predetermined significance level.
-revDepartment of EnergyOffice of Civilian Radioactive Waste ManagementOffice of Repository Development QA: N/AP.O. Box 364629North Las Vegas, NV 89036-8629APR 0 2 2003OVERNIGHT MAILJanet R. Schlueter, ChiefHigh-Level Waste BranchDivision of Waste ManagementOffice of Nuclear M...
A radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Because it is chemically identical to natural hydrogen, tritium can easily be taken into the body by any ingestion path. It decays by emitting beta particles and has a half-life of about 12.5 years. For related information, see the Fact Shee...
A common method for concentrating uranium from a solution. The uranium solution is passed through a resin bed where the uranium-carbonate complex ions are transferred to the resin by exchange with a negative ion like chloride. After build-up of the uranium complex on the resi...
The use of sealed sources of ionizing radiation for nondestructive examination of the structure of materials. When the radiation penetrates the material, it produces a shadow image by blackening a sheet of photographic film that has been placed behind the material, and the di...
A facility that converts enriched uranium hexafluoride (UF6) into fuel for commercial light-water power reactors, research and test reactors, and other nuclear reactors. The UF6, in solid form in containers, is heated to a gaseous form and then chemically processed to form ur...
The process of increasing the maximum power level at which a commercial nuclear power plant may operate. This power level, regulated by the NRC, is included in the plant's operating license and technical specifications. A licensee may only change its maximum power output afte...
Part of an NRC license authorizing the operation of a nuclear production or utilization facility. A Technical Specification establishes requirements for items such as safety limits, limiting safety system settings, limiting control settings, limiting conditions for operation,...
The small, central, positively charged region of an atom. Except for the nucleus of ordinary hydrogen, which has only a proton, all atomic nuclei contain both protons and neutrons. The number of protons determines the total positive charge or atomic number. This number is the...
The property possessed by some elements (such as uranium) of spontaneously emitting energy in the form of radiation as a result of the decay (or disintegration) of an unstable atom. Radioactivity is also the term used to describe the rate at which radioactive material emits r...
Alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, x-rays, neutrons, high-speed electrons, high-speed protons, and other particles capable of producing ions. Radiation, as used in 10 CFR Part 20, does not include non-ionizing radiation, such as radio- or microwaves, or visible, infr...
A specialized agency within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which was created to assist its member countries in maintaining and further developing the scientific, technological, and legal bases for safe, environmentally friendly, and economic...
New Rulemaking Tracking and ReportingCategory 3 Public MeetingMay 4, 2017Meeting PurposeTo demonstrate the NRC’s new rulemaking webpages and tracking data, answer questions, and receive feedback.2Meeting AgendaWelcome and Introductions 30 minutesDemonstration of New Rulemaking...
December 16, 2015 MEMORANDUM TO: Stephen D. Dingbaum Assistant Inspector General for Audits Office of the Inspector General FROM: Patricia K. Holahan, Director /RA/ Office of Enforcement SUBJECT: STATUS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: AUDIT OF NRC’S USE OF CONFIRMATORY A...
A radioactive material or byproduct that is specifically manufactured or obtained for the purpose of using the emitted radiation. Such sources are commonly used in teletherapy or industrial radiography; in various types of industrial gauges, irradiators, and gamma knives; and...
A centralized U.S. Government database used to track and account for source and special nuclear material. The system contains current and historical data on the possession, use, and shipment of source and special nuclear material within the United States, as well as all export...