The NRC performance indicator program

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently established a performance indicator (PI) program for nuclear power plants currently in operation. The aim of the program is to provide an objective and timely view of operational performance at individual facilities and thereby enhance the NRC's ability to more promptly recognize changes in that performance with possible safety implications and to take timely regulatory action. It is important to recognize, however, that the program is but one more tool to be used in conjunction with other effective means for providing input to NRC management decisions in the area of plant-specific regulatory oversight. This paper describes the development of the PI program, its current status, and its use in the NRC regulatory and safety oversight role. (author)