1 Managing Technical Support Organizations at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Dr. Peter B. Lyons, Commissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission IAEA International Conference on the Challenges Faced by Technical and Scientific Support Organizations in Enhancing Nuclear Safety April 23-27, 2007

2 The Need for Strong Regulatory Technical, Scientific, and Research Capability “What are the facts? Again and again and again – what are the facts … and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue. Get the facts!” Robert Heinlein

3 Facts versus Theory Where is Laser Fusion today? NOVA Laser 1984 National Ignition Facility 2004

4 Types of Support Research Research Licensing Licensing Inspection Inspection Other Support (e.g. administrative) Other Support (e.g. administrative)

5 NRC’s Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Coordinates and Manages Support from Coordinates and Manages Support from –National Laboratories –Universities –Private Commercial Contractors –Standards Committees –National Research Centers –International Research Centers

6 Diversity in National Labs Argonne Argonne Brookhaven Brookhaven Idaho Idaho Los Alamos Los Alamos Lawrence Livermore Lawrence Livermore Oak Ridge Oak Ridge Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest Sandia Sandia

7 Digital Instrumentation and Controls Today – Diversity is needed to provide access to expertise Today – Diversity is needed to provide access to expertise Tomorrow – Centralized expertise shared among multiple industries and government agencies? Tomorrow – Centralized expertise shared among multiple industries and government agencies?

8 Extending Capabilities Using Mulitple TSOs Three separate National Laboratories Three separate National Laboratories Conducting a spectrum of different tests to determine effects of water chemistry on PWR emergency sump filter performance Conducting a spectrum of different tests to determine effects of water chemistry on PWR emergency sump filter performance

9 Who Pays for TSO work? 90% of NRC total budget authority given by Congress is recovered by charging fees to licensees and applicants

10 Meeting the Challenge Today Existing Nuclear Power Plants Existing Nuclear Power Plants –Materials and Aging Issues –Safety Questions such as PWR sumps New Nuclear Power Plant Designs New Nuclear Power Plant Designs –Severe Accident Design Features –New Design Certifications U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (geo-seismic) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (geo-seismic) U.S. Geological Survey (geo-seismic) U.S. Geological Survey (geo-seismic)

11 To Meet the Challenge Tomorrow Next Generation Nuclear Plant Next Generation Nuclear Plant Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA) Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses (CNWRA)

12 Avoiding Conflicts-of-Interest Maintain Public Confidence in an Independent Regulator Maintain Public Confidence in an Independent Regulator Explicit Contract Language Binds TSOs Explicit Contract Language Binds TSOs DOE use of large engineering firms to manage National Laboratories increases the challenge of avoiding conflicts-of-interest while maintaining NRC access to needed capabilities DOE use of large engineering firms to manage National Laboratories increases the challenge of avoiding conflicts-of-interest while maintaining NRC access to needed capabilities

13 Closing Thoughts Great Value in Collaborations of International Regulatory Bodies and Associated TSOs Great Value in Collaborations of International Regulatory Bodies and Associated TSOs Needs of Each Regulatory Body Must Determine TSO Support Arrangements Needs of Each Regulatory Body Must Determine TSO Support Arrangements International Commitment to Research Collaboration Must Continue International Commitment to Research Collaboration Must Continue

14 THANK YOU!