RISK INFORMING THE NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND WASTE ARENAS

The purpose of this paper is to report significant progress in the development of the use of risk analysis and information in the non-reactor areas of the nuclear enterprise that is regulated by the US. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). For the past quarter century, probabilistic risk assessment has been used to help guide safety and operational programs for commercial nuclear power plants that generate electricity. The non-reactor areas that NRC regulates includes all other aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle as well as medical and industrial applications of nuclear science. Risk insights and information could improve the way the NRC Office of Nuclear Materials Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) manages its regulatory processes: rulemaking, licensing, inspection and enforcement. Beginning in February 2001, eight case studies were conducted of specific facilities (decommissioning , uranium recovery, and uranium enrichment, gas chromatographs, static eliminators, fixed gauges, transportation of the Trojan vessel package, and TMI-2 fuel debris storage exemption) to gain insight on how these and other areas have been and potentially can be risk-informed. These studies involved site visits, analysis, and participation in meetings with stakeholders. The case studies were designed to meet the following objectives: (1) Test draft screening criteria for determining whether a regulatory issue or licensing action could be risk-informed and produce a final set of screening criteria. (2) Gain insights into risk-informing NMSS regulatory processes. (3) Determine the feasibility of developing safety goals (4) Identify gaps in tools, methods, data, and guidance that are required to risk-inform NMSS