License applicants for new reactors are required to establish and implement Design Reliability Assurance Programs (D-RAP). EPRI has embarked upon a plan to conduct two workshops in 2011 on D-RAP to define the issues, discuss the preferred and alternate approaches, and to support the effort of industry to achieve cost effective compliance with this important initiative.
The first workshop was held July 12-13, 2011. The second will be held on October 4-5, 2011. Both workshops focus on regulatory issues and plans to allow participants an opportunity to consider alternatives and discuss the issues and approaches being adopted. Ultimately, the goal is to develop an EPRI report by the end of the year that summarizes common practices in these programs, defines the issues being addressed, and presents possible approaches to their resolution.
Workshop #1 in July identified issues associated with development and implementation of a Design Reliability Assurance Program (D-RAP) and the approaches to effective identification of ITAAC for new applications as well as opportunities and obstacles involved in converting the Design Reliability Assurance Program activities into effective plant operations. Several methodologies for implementation of the Design Reliability Assurance Program were presented and discussed along with discussion of D-RAP activities undertaken by active applications under review today for Design Certification Applications and Combined License Applications (COLAs).
The purpose of Workshop #2 is to continue the dialog and develop a consensus for methodologies for implementation of an effective Design Reliability Assurance Program. This will also focus on the integration of Design Reliability Assurance Program activities and other plant programs for effective management of the procurement and testing functions.
ISG-18 – Interim Staff Guidance on NUREG-0800 Standard Review Plan Section 17.4, “Reliability Assurance Program” DC/COL-ISG-018, provides the elements and guidance for the development of a Design Reliability Assurance Program but lacks the details necessary for implementation. In addition, Design Certification Applications (DCAs) and COLAs comply with ISG-18 using a variety of approaches.
Workshop #2 Topics:
Methodology for selecting within scope Systems, Structures and Components (SSCs).
Operation of the Integrated Panel and the supporting tasks of developing Probability Risk Assessment (PRA) Insights for SSCs and functions, evaluating implications for defense in depth and safety margin, and processes for developing the consensus decision will be discussed.
Guidance for ensuring design changes during procurement and construction as well as refined PRA results are appropriately considered in the on-going program to maintain adequate categorization of SSCs.
Emphasis on practices of the Expert Panel:
Development of the process to reach Panel consensus, i.e., how to determine the risk significance of the system, component, and function, weighing the inputs and reaching an integrated decision, and specifically the development of a charter that defines roles, responsibilities, qualifications, membership, and documentation of meetings and decisions.
Integration of Design Reliability Assurance Program with other regulatory programs or requirements:
Maintenance Rule, 10 CFR 50.69 Risk Informed Safety Categorization (RISC) Rule, Technical Specification Surveillances, and ITAAC.
Integration of Design Reliability Assurance Program with other industry guidance:
Industry efforts and associated EPRI Reports on new plant procurement and operations support including specification of component requirements and testing as well as support of operations.
Areas to be included are:
1. NRC requirements and expectations – establishing common attributes for the programmatic requirements.
2. Current Procedures and plans for implementation of Design Reliability Assurance Program including use of contractor organizations and corporate sponsorship and charter in the early stages and transition to owner/operator involvement.
3. Means of defining the Expert Panel membership and required expertise.
4. Development of Panel purpose and practices. The objective is to summarize the relationship of panel members to organizations and the details of information brought to panel activities and the organizational involvement in supporting the panel members and their consideration of deterministic and PRA related attributes for determination of scope and treatment.
5. Development of the documentation of the integrated decision as to risk significance is a key ingredient in the program. Decisions of the Integrated Panel must be documented for review, acceptance, and use over the plant design, construction, and operating life.
6. Transition to the Maintenance Rule implementation aspects of Operational program management will be addressed.
7. Inspections, tests, analyses and acceptance criteria ITAAC and program closure as well as plans for dealing with Construction Regulatory Oversight Program elements will be reviewed.Who should attend:
Managers of applicant organizations and key support personnel responsible for the development of the Design Reliability Assurance Program and subsequent implementation should attend. The workshop will include discussion of the inspections, tests, analyses and acceptance criteria (ITAAC) and the subsequent turnover to the plant operations organization. Managers involved in these areas for new plants will also benefit. In the second workshop there is a planned discussion of 10CFR50.69 and its relationship to Design Reliability Assurance Program.
