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Generic Issues

NRC has identified by its systematic assessment of plant operation certain issues that seem prevalent among plants. We document and track resolution of these "generic safety issues." The generic safety issue program provides for (1) identifying generic issues; (2) assigning them priorities; (3) developing detailed action plans for their resolution; (4) overseeing resolution progress by senior managers; and (5) disseminating to the public the status of resolution progress. The resolution of these issues may involve new or revised rules, new or revised guidance, or revised interpretation of rules or guidance that affect nuclear power plant licensees or nuclear material certificate holders. Congress requires that NRC maintain this program (see Section 210 of the 1974 Energy Reorganization Act (Public Law 95-209)).

On this page:

• What Is a Generic Issue?
• How Is a Generic Issue Identified?
• How Is a Generic Issue Submitted?
• What Is the Process for Resolving Generic Issues?
• How Is Progress in Resolving Generic Issues Tracked?
• Where Is the Complete List of Generic Issues?

What Is a Generic Issue?

A generic issue is a regulatory matter that is not sufficiently addressed by existing regulations, guidance, or programs. Such a matter may involve the design construction, operation, or decommissioning of several licensees or a class of NRC licensees or certificate holders. The matter may be insufficiently regulated or unnecessarily regulated, thereby producing undue burden on affected licensees.

How Is a Generic Issue Identified?

NRC staff or organizations, nuclear industry groups, or the public may nominate a candidate generic issue for review. They sometimes are identified by routine reports from both the staff and licensees (see Event and Status Reports and Events Assessment). These source reports include licensee event reports, morning reports, inspection reports, investigation reports, allegation reports, component failure reports, required licensee reports (10 CFR Part 21), industry reports, or reports of operational events at foreign facilities.

How Is a Generic Issue Submitted?

Persons who wish to report emergencies or who wish to report violations should follow the procedures listed under Report a Safety or Security Concern. Persons who wish to submit a candidate generic issue should send a letter (or memo) to the Director of the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research. The letter should, at minimum, include the following:

• A proposed title
• A description of the issue, including and background or basis for the issue
• A discussion of the risk potential, i.e., how this issue relates to public safety
• Sufficient submitter identification to allow the NRC to contact the submitter.

It is also desirable to include, if possible:

• a list of any operational events that support the concern
• a list of the licensees, certificate holders, etc., potentially affected by this concern, or a class of licensees (e.g., all reactors of a particular design)
• any possible or suggested solutions, either hardware or procedural
• a list of pertinent regulations and regulatory guidance
• a list of applicable references.

What Is the Process for Resolving Generic Issues?

Each candidate issue is screened to determine whether it has generic implications, that may be applicable to several plants. If an issue does have generic implications, the NRC assesses the technical implications and places it in one of three categories. Is it an issue of (1) adequate protection of the public health and safety, (2) substantial safety enhancement, or (3) burden reduction for licensees. For issues that need resolution, the NRC then develops and issues regulations or guidance or both. An issue is considered resolved after licensees or certificate holders implement requirements or adhere to the guidance NRC disseminated for that issue and NRC verifies its implementation.

How Is Progress in Resolving Generic Issues Tracked?

Progress in resolving generic issues that NRC identified for regulation and guidance development is published quarterly in the Generic Issue Management Control System, which is available in the Public Document Room or from the Public Available Records (PARS) component of the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS).

Where Is the Complete List of Generic Issues

The resolutions of all resolved generic safety issues and the technical assessments of all remaining unresolved generic issues are published in A Prioritization of Generic Safety Issues (NUREG-0933), which contains 846 reactor issues identified between 1976 and 2003.

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Last revised Thursday, January 08, 2004