NRC advice and assistance to nuclear power regulatory programmes of developing countries

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the responsibility for the regulation of US commercial nuclear energy activities to protect the health and safety of the US public. NRC also licenses exports of nuclear materials and facilities. In co-ordination with other US government agencies and IAEA programmes, NRC has strived to provide, to countries initiating nuclear power programmes, technical advice and assistance in their nuclear safety activities, while encouraging the development of an indigenous regulatory capability. This support is to be provided to countries requesting it, and especially those countries building or operating US-supplied light-water reactors, where NRC expertise is particularly applicable. This advice and assistance has several basic elements which include: (a) Meetings for NRC to learn the safety assistance requirements of importing countries, to advise on the types of assistance NRC might be able to provide, and to assist countries in requesting assistance from the IAEA; (b) NRC support of recruitment of IAEA reactor safety advisors and other short-term and long-term experts from within and outside the NRC staff to serve in the developing countries; (c) Training assignments for specialists from other countries within the NRC staff, and other NRC support of safety manpower training; (d) Assistance to developing countries in obtaining notice and explanations of NRC safety decisions, including advice on previous NRC studies of problems which the developing countries encounter; and (e) NRC staff support of and participation in IAEA safety advisory missions