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Dale A. Powers

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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TopicsTopics

Congressional ActsCongressional Acts Mission/FunctionsMission/Functions Staffing, Offices & ActivitiesStaffing, Offices & Activities EnforcementEnforcement Historic Plant LicensingHistoric Plant Licensing New PlantsNew Plants

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NRC was established by the Energy NRC was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which Reorganization Act of 1974, which amended the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.amended the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.

When Congress abolished the Atomic When Congress abolished the Atomic Energy Commission: Energy Commission: Its regulatory duties were assigned to NRCIts regulatory duties were assigned to NRC Other functions were assigned to DOEOther functions were assigned to DOE

The NRC is headed by 5 Commissioners, The NRC is headed by 5 Commissioners, appointed by the President, and confirmed appointed by the President, and confirmed by the Senate.by the Senate.

NRC: Who We AreNRC: Who We Are

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NRC MissionNRC Mission

Mission - Mission - Regulate civilian Regulate civilian uses of nuclear uses of nuclear material material (nuclear (nuclear reactors that generate reactors that generate electricity, research electricity, research reactors, reactor fuel reactors, reactor fuel production facilities, production facilities, medical and industrial medical and industrial applications)applications)

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Primary Functions:Primary Functions:

1.1. Establish RegulationsEstablish Regulations

2.2. Issue LicensesIssue Licenses

3.3. Provide Oversight, Provide Oversight, Inspection, and EnforcementInspection, and Enforcement

4.4. Evaluate Global Operational Evaluate Global Operational ExperienceExperience

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StaffingStaffing

Approximately 4000 people located:Approximately 4000 people located: Headquarters Rockville, MDHeadquarters Rockville, MD Four Regional officesFour Regional offices Chattanooga, TN Training CenterChattanooga, TN Training Center High-Level Waste Management OfficeHigh-Level Waste Management Office Resident Inspector offices at over 60 Resident Inspector offices at over 60

sitessites

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Headquarters Office

NRC Office LocationsNRC Office Locations

Rockville, MD

Region IIAtlanta, GA

Region IIILisle, IL

Region IVArlington, TX

Region IKing of Prussia, PA

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NRC Regions

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External OutreachExternal Outreach

In 2008, NRCIn 2008, NRC• Conducted > 850 public meetingsConducted > 850 public meetings• Issued 445 press releasesIssued 445 press releases• Conducted > 250 Congressional Conducted > 250 Congressional

interactionsinteractions

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Enforcement OptionsEnforcement Options

Notice of ViolationNotice of Violation Civil PenaltyCivil Penalty Order - requiring modifications, Order - requiring modifications,

shutdown, or prohibiting involvement shutdown, or prohibiting involvement in NRC-licensed activitiesin NRC-licensed activities

andand Press ReleasePress Release Referral to Department of JusticeReferral to Department of Justice

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Examples of Enforcement ActionsExamples of Enforcement Actions $5,450,000 issued in 2005 for multiple safety $5,450,000 issued in 2005 for multiple safety

violations at Davis-Besse.violations at Davis-Besse. A licensed reactor operator, as part of a 1998 A licensed reactor operator, as part of a 1998

plea agreement for deliberately compromising an plea agreement for deliberately compromising an NRC exam, will never reapply for a position at any NRC exam, will never reapply for a position at any facility under NRC oversight.facility under NRC oversight.

By order in 2007, a company president was By order in 2007, a company president was prohibited from involvement in licensed activity prohibited from involvement in licensed activity for 3 years because he had deliberately for 3 years because he had deliberately misrepresented the compliance of an export misrepresented the compliance of an export shipment of radioactive material.shipment of radioactive material.

By order in 2007, a security officer was prohibited By order in 2007, a security officer was prohibited from licensed activity for 5 years because he from licensed activity for 5 years because he removed from a specific weapon from a licensee’s removed from a specific weapon from a licensee’s facility. facility.

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Historic Plant LicensingHistoric Plant Licensing Original StagesOriginal Stages

• Environmental & financial submittalsEnvironmental & financial submittals• Limited site work permitLimited site work permit• Preliminary Safety Analysis Report submittalPreliminary Safety Analysis Report submittal• Construction permitConstruction permit• Final Safety Analysis Report submittalFinal Safety Analysis Report submittal• Low-power operating licenseLow-power operating license• Full-power operating licenseFull-power operating license• Hearing opportunitiesHearing opportunities

Dresden 1 – first commercial-sized plant started operating - Dresden 1 – first commercial-sized plant started operating - 19601960

Standardized plant designs Standardized plant designs Applicant lines of the 60s and 70sApplicant lines of the 60s and 70s Brown’s Ferry fire of 1975Brown’s Ferry fire of 1975 Three Mile Island accident of 1979Three Mile Island accident of 1979 Chernobyl Accident of 1986Chernobyl Accident of 1986 ShorehamShoreham

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New Plant Licensing ProcessesNew Plant Licensing Processes

Early Site PermitEarly Site Permit One Step Combined LicenseOne Step Combined License

andand License RenewalLicense Renewal

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Plant LicensingPlant Licensing

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Advanced Reactor Designs Advanced Reactor Designs

AP 1000 (Advanced Passive) ESBWR (Economic Simplified BWR)

EPR (Evolutionary Power Reactor)

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Questions ?Questions ?