Additional information
Regulations set forth by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) prescribe the qualifications and staffing levels for licensed operating personnel for nuclear power plants. The introduction of advanced reactor designs and increased use of advanced automation technologies in existing nuclear power plants will likely change the roles, responsibilities, composition, and size of the crews required to control plant operations. Current regulations regarding control room staffing, which are based upon the concept of operation for existing light-water reactors, may no longer apply. Therefore, applicants for an operating license for an advanced reactor, and current licensees who have implemented significant changes to existing control rooms, may submit applications for exemptions from current staffing regulations. The NRC staff is responsible for reviewing the exemption requests and must determine whether the staffing proposals provide adequate assurance that public health and safety will be maintained at a level that is comparable to that afforded by compliance with the current regulations. This guidance provides a process for systematically reviewing and assessing these submittals. It details the information, data, and review criteria necessary to review the exemption request. The information and data from an exemption request could include (1) the description of the request, the concept of operations, and operational conditions considered, (2) supporting analyses and documentation from operating experience, functional requirements analysis and function allocation, task analysis, job definition, and staffing plan, and (3) data and analysis from validation exercises performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of the proposed staffing plan. The information collections contained in this guidance are covered by the requirements of 10 CFR Part 50, which were approved by the Office of Management and Budget, approval number 3150-0011.
