Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Encyclopedia
The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is known by the acronym NRR. It is a subordinate part of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.which is itself part of the United States Department of Energy
.
The Office should not be confused with the NRC's Nuclear Regulatory Research. The Office's It's current Director is Eric Leeds
. It has deputy directorates for two areas: (1) Reactor Safety Programs and (2)Engineering and Corporate Support. It has program management, policy development and analysis staff as well as an array of divisions.
The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is responsible for ensuring the public health and safety through licensing and inspection activities at commercial nuclear power plants. However, the actual evaluation of license renewal applications, known as LRA's, is conducted by the Division of License Renewal, a subordinated Division of the multifaceted NRR. Of current interest to the public and elected officials is the proposed renewal license for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant
,DCPP, which is also sometimes referred to as the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. According to Victor Dricks, senior public affairs officer for NRC Region IV, the NRC recently conducted a review of the over 100 nuclear power plants in the United States, including DCPP, and the "found a high level of preparedness and strong capability in terms of equipment and procedures to respond to severe events..."
's adviser for the TMI accident. This direct liaison is notable in that it was NRC Chairman Joseph Hendrie
, Denton's superior, who interacted with Pennsylvania Governor Thorndike. This event provoked considerable public interest which coincided with release of the film The China Syndrome
which galvanized public opinion on nuclear policy in the US. In this context, President Carter was advised to walk into the crisis zone personally, in order to demonstrate that the dangers were not as high as many believed. These events occurred at approximately the same time as the beginning of the J. Samuel Walker
term of service as the official historian of the NRC. These events are documented in Three Mile Island: A Nuclear Crisis in Historical Perspective
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
.
The Office should not be confused with the NRC's Nuclear Regulatory Research. The Office's It's current Director is Eric Leeds
Eric Leeds
Eric Leeds is an American jazz and funk musician who plays the saxophone and other woodwind and brass instruments. He is best known for his work with Prince.- Biography :Leeds was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of a retailer...
. It has deputy directorates for two areas: (1) Reactor Safety Programs and (2)Engineering and Corporate Support. It has program management, policy development and analysis staff as well as an array of divisions.
The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation is responsible for ensuring the public health and safety through licensing and inspection activities at commercial nuclear power plants. However, the actual evaluation of license renewal applications, known as LRA's, is conducted by the Division of License Renewal, a subordinated Division of the multifaceted NRR. Of current interest to the public and elected officials is the proposed renewal license for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant
Diablo Canyon Power Plant is an electricity-generating nuclear power plant at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California. The plant has two Westinghouse-designed 4-loop pressurized-water nuclear reactors operated by Pacific Gas & Electric. The facility is located on about in Avila Beach,...
,DCPP, which is also sometimes referred to as the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. According to Victor Dricks, senior public affairs officer for NRC Region IV, the NRC recently conducted a review of the over 100 nuclear power plants in the United States, including DCPP, and the "found a high level of preparedness and strong capability in terms of equipment and procedures to respond to severe events..."
Scope of authority
It is in charge of nuclear reactor safety for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Its mandate include four main areas:- rulemaking
- licensing
- oversight
- Incident response teamIncident Response TeamAn incident response team or emergency response team is a group of people who prepare for and respond to any emergency incident, such as a natural disaster or an interruption of business operations. Incident response teams are common in corporations as well as in public service organizations...
Mandate
The office is charged with the priorities to protect the public health, safety, and the environment. It frequently works in conjunction with the NRC regional organizational structure and other task focused offices for these purposes. The NRC also coordinates at the Commission level with other Federal agencies including its superordinate agency, the NRC.Divisions
- Division of Safety Systems
- Division of Component Integrity
- Division of Engineering
- Division of Risk Assessment
- Division of License Renewal
- Division of Operating Reactor Licensing
- Division of Inspection and Regional Support
- Division of Policy and Rulemaking
Reorganization
In 1999 the office underwent reorganization under the aegis of the then current director Samuel J. Collins.Historic spotlight during TMI accident
The NRR was a key player in the Three Mile Island nuclear incident. The then current Director was Harold Ray Denton who was President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
's adviser for the TMI accident. This direct liaison is notable in that it was NRC Chairman Joseph Hendrie
Joseph Hendrie
Joseph M. Hendrie is a former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. On August 9, 1977 he was named to a four-year term on the Commission and designated as its Chairman by President Jimmy Carter...
, Denton's superior, who interacted with Pennsylvania Governor Thorndike. This event provoked considerable public interest which coincided with release of the film The China Syndrome
The China Syndrome
The China Syndrome is a 1979 American thriller film that tells the story of a reporter and cameraman who discover safety coverups at a nuclear power plant. It stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Scott Brady, James Hampton, Peter Donat, Richard Herd, and Wilford Brimley.The film was...
which galvanized public opinion on nuclear policy in the US. In this context, President Carter was advised to walk into the crisis zone personally, in order to demonstrate that the dangers were not as high as many believed. These events occurred at approximately the same time as the beginning of the J. Samuel Walker
J. Samuel Walker
J. Samuel Walker is an American historian and book author based in Maryland. Although not the subject of any widely known biography, he is notable for his widely recognized contribution to the enduring historical record in his specific field of study. His particular focus is on the nuclear age,...
term of service as the official historian of the NRC. These events are documented in Three Mile Island: A Nuclear Crisis in Historical Perspective
See also
- Atomic Safety and Licensing BoardAtomic Safety and Licensing BoardA unit of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission authorized under the Atomic Energy Act, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel consists of administrative law judges who hear complaints similar to ordinary district court except for subject matter jurisdiction which pertains to matters...
- Nuclear safetyNuclear safetyNuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. This covers nuclear power plants as well as all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power,...
- Nuclear safety in the United StatesNuclear safety in the United StatesNuclear safety in the U.S. is governed by federal regulations and continues to be studied by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission . The safety of nuclear plants and materials controlled by the U.S...
- Nuclear policy in the United States
- Nuclear Accident Response OrganisationNuclear Accident Response OrganisationDefence Nuclear Accident Response Organisation . The UK Ministry of Defence maintains a Nuclear Accident Response Organisation to respond to an accident or incident, including one arising through terrorist acts, involving defence nuclear assets.Defence Nuclear Assets include:* Naval Nuclear...
- Nuclear energy policy in the United States
- Nuclear regulation
- United States Department of EnergyUnited States Department of EnergyThe United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
- United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
External links
- The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission supervises the US Nuclear industry
- Nuclear Power Safety and Security Information