Office of Nuclear 

Regulatory Research
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 provided the 

framework for the widespread use of nuclear 

energy for peaceful purposes. The 1954 Act 

created the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 

to both regulate nuclear power and to 

encourage the use of nuclear energy. 

In 1974, the Energy Reorganization Act split 

the two functions of the Atomic Energy 

Commission. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) was created to regulate 

the safe operation of commercial nuclear 

power and began operation on January 19, 

1975. Initially, the U.S. Energy Research and 

Development Administration (ERDA) was 

created to manage energy research and 

development, nuclear weapons, and naval 

reactors programs. In 1977, ERDA was combined with the Federal Energy Administration 

to form the U.S. Department of Energy. 

Cover image: The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research is located 

in a new, state-of-the-art facility in Rockville, MD.
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 1 

What Does NRC Do To Keep the Public Safe? 

The mission of NRC is to license and regulate the Nation’s civilian use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public 

health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the 

environment. 

NRC has 104 licensed nuclear power plants currently operating and providing 

electricity to communities. Most of the plants were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and 

NRC provides regular inspections to ensure that they continue to operate safely. 

To support the mission, NRC is staffed by professionals with expertise in a variety 

of fields. Like other government agencies, NRC employs administrative staff, but 

has a particular need for nuclear physicists and engineers of all types. To maintain 

the highest safety standards, the agency conducts a wide array of research and simulates a variety of scenarios. To ensure a strong technical basis for NRC’s regulatory 

requirements, the agency conducts an extensive research program. 

The Commission 

NRC is headed by five Commissioners appointed by the President and 

confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms. The President designates one of 

them to be the Chairman and 

official spokesperson of the 

Commission. 

NRC Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko 

and Executive Director for 

Operations R.W. Borchardt 

holds a plaque that distinguishes 

NRC as the best place to work in 

the Federal Government. 

According to NRC Chairman 

Gregory B. Jaczko, one of the 

main reasons NRC is ranked as 

the best place to work in the Federal Government is the agency’s emphasis 

on effective communication. RES supports that goal through regular 

seminars and is always looking for opportunities to share information with 

staff in a timely and engaging manner. 
2 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What Does the Office of Nuclear Regulatory 

Research Do? 

The Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES) is the research arm of NRC. The 

office was created at the same time as NRC through the Energy Reorganization Act 

of 1974 and is one of the three statutory offices in the agency. RES currently has 

about 260 staff and close to $70 million in funding to pursue its programs. The 

office employs engineers, scientists, and other professionals who are experts in their 

field, and their work directly supports NRC’s mission to protect people and the 

environment. 

RES is organized into three research divisions: Engineering, Systems Analysis, and 

Risk Analysis. Administrative support is provided by the Program Management, 

Policy Development, and Analysis staff. 

RES supports NRC’s regulatory offices by conducting indepth confirmatory 

research on a variety of safety topics. For example, if the Office of New Reactors 

is considering a new reactor design, it may ask RES to conduct experiments to 

independently confirm licensee information or conduct analytical calculations 

to confirm the design complies with NRC regulations. Although NRC does not 

develop new technologies, the agency does stay abreast of emerging technologies to 

identify potential safety concerns and ensure they are acceptably resolved before the 

technology is implemented. 

NRC Research Funding, FY 2009

Note: Totals may not equal the sum of components because of independent rounding.

Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Homeland Security Licensing - $2.6 M

Total: $64.5 Million

New/Advanced Reactor Licensing - $10.3 M

Reactor Program - $47.6 M

Materials and Waste - $2.2 M

Infrastructure Support - $1.9 M
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 3 

What Improvements Will We See In New Reactors? 

NRC must thoroughly review and approve proposed new reactor designs before it 

will certify these designs for construction. Currently, NRC is certifying several new 

reactor designs and reviewing applications to build plants using these new designs. 

The agency also is expecting to receive additional applications in the future. 

The proposed designs include significant safety improvements. Some of the new 

reactors are designed to respond to abnormal conditions and accidents with little or 

no powered equipment and require fewer operator actions. 

Plant operators have begun replacing analog equipment in existing reactors 

with new digital systems to improve operational performance and safety. RES is 

conducting research to address the complex and unique issues associated with 

implementing digital control systems. 

The nuclear industry is also developing advanced reactor designs that utilize coolants other than water. These advanced designs could be used for specialized uses 

like providing electricity for remote towns, generating steam for chemical plants, or 

producing hydrogen for fuel. RES is performing research to better understand the 

performance and potential safety issues associated with these designs to help NRC 

develop regulatory requirements for these reactors. 

Office Director Deputy Director

Component

Integrity Branch

Regulatory Guide

Development 

Branch

Mechanical 

and Electrical 

Engineering 

Branch

Corrosion and

Metallurgy Branch

Digital 

Instrumentation

and Control Branch

Structural,

Geotechnical and 

Seismic Engineering 

Branch

Code 

Development

Branch

New and

Advanced

Reactors

Fuel and

Source Term 

Branch

Reactor Systems

Analysis Branch

Health Effects 

Branch

Special Projects 

Branch

Division of Risk Analysis

Director Deputy Director

Probabilistic 

Risk Assessment 

Branch

Operating 

Experience

and Generic 

Issues Branch

Human Factors 

and Reliability 

Branch

Fire Research 

Branch

Performance 

and Reliability 

Branch

Environmental

Transport 

Branch

Division of Systems Analysis

Director Deputy Director

Program Management, Policy

Development and Analysis Staff

Director Deputy Director

Division of Engineering

Director Deputy Director 

Human Capital and

Communications

Branch

Information 

Technology and

Infrastructure

Branch

Financial and

Performance

Management

Branch

What is a Next Generation Nuclear Power Plant? 

The Next Generation Nuclear Power (NGNP) is an advanced reactor 

concept for generating electricity and producing hydrogen using process 

heat. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) mandates the U.S. Department 

of Energy (DOE) to develop an NGNP prototype for operation by 2021, 

and gives NRC the authority to license the prototype. 
4 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

How Long Can a Power Plant Operate? 

The Atomic Energy Act limits an initial license for a nuclear power plant to 40 

years. However, NRC has recently issued a rule (license-renewal rule) that allows 

licensees to apply for a license extension of up to 20 years. Before granting a license 

extension, NRC confirms that the plant meets all of the requirements of the license 

renewal rule and can operate safely for the longer period of time. NRC expects that 

some plants will request a second 20 year extension. 

RES is conducting confirmatory research associated with extended operation. This 

includes research on materials and concrete structures to understand potential 

degradation mechanisms resulting from long-term exposure to high temperature, 

pressure, radiation, and water chemistry. RES is investigating improved inspection techniques for these items, as well as improved welding repair techniques and 

monitoring.

What About the Risk of Earthquakes 

Damaging Plants? 

NRC has considered the hazard and risk posed by earthquakes in the design of 

nuclear power plants for decades. This topic is often broadly referred to as “seismic 

safety.” NRC evaluates new plants and sites with the same rigor as the operating plants. 

To ensure that new plants are designed with the best information available, NRC 

is participating with other experts in an extensive update to the characterization of 

seismic sources in the central and eastern United States. 

The Sumatran earthquake in December 2004 (about magnitude 9 on the Richter 

scale) and the associated devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean have focused 

considerable attention on structures and facilities that are located on or adjacent 

to the coastline. RES is working with other agencies to improve tsunami hazard 

assessment information and techniques and expects to update NRC’s regulatory 

guidance as a direct result of this research. 

What is Long-Term Research? 

RES sponsors long-term research to provide fundamental insights 

and technical information that support anticipated future (> 5 years) 

NRC needs. 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 5 

Ms. Rosemary Hogan 

has over 25 years of 

experience in the 

nuclear field and has 

been a supervisor for 

8 years overseeing a 

variety of nuclear 

research including earthquake research. 

Rosemary received her bachelor’s degree 

in chemistry from Nazareth College in 

Kalamazoo, MI. 

What Does RES Do Regarding the Effects of 

Radiation on People and the Environment? 

RES collects radiation exposure information on people who work at or visit 

NRC-licensed facilities including medical facilities, power plants, fuel facilities, 

and research facilities. RES monitors scientific literature for cancer rates and is 

performing an indepth analysis to confirm that cancer rates around nuclear power 

plants are not above average. RES also collaborates with national and international 

experts in the field of radiation protection on basic research and new guidance for 

acceptable radiation exposure. 

In addition, nuclear facilities may release small amounts of radioactive materials 

(gaseous and liquid effluents) to the environment under certain conditions 

specified in their licenses, or inadvertently through deviations from normal 

operating conditions. Residual contamination occasionally remains after a facility 

has been permanently shut down and its license has been terminated. RES provides 

information and analytical tools (such as predictive models) to assess the public 

health consequences of both planned and unplanned releases. RES also assesses 

contamination that may remain after decommissioning and the effectiveness of 

remediation methods. 

Moreover, because many Federal agencies are concerned with environmental 

contamination, NRC cooperates on research and development in this area 

with other agencies. 

“Nuclear plants are designed to 

robust requirements and include 

margin for error so that plants can 

withstand known earthquake levels. 

RES reviews updated earthquake 

information and the impact of 

the new information on the 

existing nuclear plants.” 

–Rosemary Hogan
6 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What are the Possible Public Health and Safety 

Consequences in the Unlikely Event of a Nuclear 

Power Plant Accident? 

RES is conducting the State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequence Analysis (SOARCA) 

to estimate the most probable consequences in the unlikely event of a commercial 

nuclear power plant accident releasing radioactive material into the environment. 

The project is updating a 1982 study and takes maximum advantage of hundreds of 

millions of dollars of national and 

international reactor safety research 

to reflect improved plant design, operation, and accident management 

implemented over the past 25 years. 

Using computer models and simulation tools, SOARCA develops a set 

of realistic consequence estimates 

of very unlikely accidents at several 

U.S. reactor sites representative of 

reactor and containment designs in 

use in the United States. 

How is RES Examining Power Plants’ Ability to 

Withstand Attacks? 

Since 9/11, changes in the threat environment indicated that we should review 

potential threats to our nuclear facilities.

For example, NRC initiated a security and engineering review based on 

potential terrorist attacks. Research indicated that licensees could take additional 

measures to enhance the plant’s capability to withstand large fires and explosions. 

NRC required power plant operators to implement those measures. In 

addition, structural analyses of new reactor designs led to the creation of new 

requirements for the design stage of new reactors. New reactor designers must 

assess the effects of an aircraft impact and, if needed, incorporate additional design 

features to show, with reduced operator actions, that the reactor and spent fuel pool 

are maintained in a cooled state. 

Although the details are classified, the studies confirm that the plants are robust and 

the likelihood of a radioactive release affecting public health and safety is low. 

The SOARCA Steering Committee meets 

regularly to discuss the project. 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 7 

What Kind of International Activities Does 

RES Participate In? 

RES participates in over 100 international agreements that give NRC staff access to 

international subject matter experts and an extensive body of knowledge. 

NRC participates in a wide range of mutually beneficial programs to exchange 

information with the international community and to enhance the safety and security 

of peaceful nuclear activities worldwide. These programs allow NRC to access test 

facilities that are not available domestically and to leverage its research expenditures. 

RES also assists other countries in developing and improving their regulatory 

organizations and provides them with important information on safety issues. 

Does RES Have Cooperative Agreements 

with Other Organizations? 

Yes, RES has cooperative agreements with universities and nonprofit organizations 

to conduct research in specific areas of interest to the agency. These cooperative 

agreements and grants include the following organizations: 

• Electric Power Research Institute for work on fire risk, materials research, 

and advancing probabilistic risk assessments.

• Pennsylvania State University for research on spacer grid thermal 

hydraulics and nuclear fuel cladding behavior. 

• University of Tennessee for work on sparse survey data. 

• Ohio State University for research on the risk importance of digital systems. 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology for work on advanced nuclear 

technology. 

• University of Maryland for work on fire risk and uncertainties. 

• National Institute for Standards and Technology for testing to improve 

mathematical fire modeling. 

RES staff and NRC Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko observe cable tray fire testing at the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
8 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What About the Storage of Spent Fuel 

and Waste? 

Currently, used fuel from a nuclear power plant (also known as spent fuel) is stored 

at the power plant. Occasionally, the spent fuel needs to be moved and eventually there is expected to be a long-term storage facility built to store the spent fuel. 

RES does research to ensure that spent fuel is transported safely. Current research 

includes fire testing of the storage casks and evaluation of the possibility of cracking 

in a cask exposed to a marine environment. 

NRC is examining applications for improved storage and transportation of spent 

nuclear fuel. Applying this research will assist NRC in approving license proposals 

to load more spent nuclear fuel assemblies in a single cask thereby reducing both the 

number of casks that need to be transported and the associated worker exposure. 

The waste that nuclear power plants produce is known as “spent fuel.” It is stored in 

casks (left) and spent fuel pools (right). 

I Have Heard the Acronym PRA. What Is That? 

Probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) is an important tool in NRC’s regulatory 

process for nuclear power plants. A PRA assesses plant safety by examining the 

following three questions regarding plant design and operation: 

• What can go wrong? 

• How likely is it? 

• What are its consequences? 

The results of the assessments provide insights regarding the relative strengths and 

weaknesses of the plant’s design and operation. NRC uses these insights to 

focus its reviews and attention on aspects of plant design and operation that are 

most risk-important. 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 9 

Dr. Erasmia Lois has 

been with NRC for 

about 25 years working in areas 

related to probabilistic risk assessment 

with a focus on 

human reliability 

analysis. Erasmia has received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from 

the University of Athens, Greece and 

a doctorate in nuclear engineering 

from the University of Maryland. 

 

How Does RES Account for Human 

Performance in Nuclear Plant Operations? 

RES conducts research on the interaction of humans with systems and the 

environment in which they work. This research varies from assessing human 

reliability, evaluating fitness-for-duty programs, gauging safety culture, and 

identifying the implications of system automation. This research is used by the 

regulatory staff to determine the acceptability of both new designs and modifications to existing designs. 

What Kind of Research Is Being Conducted at 

Decommissioning Sites that Previously Dealt 

with Nuclear Materials? 

Research is being conducted to assess radioactive contamination at decommissioning sites. These sites were previously licensed sites that dealt with nuclear materials. 

Residual radioactive contamination at such sites can pose a risk to the public and 

must be assessed. The potential for movement of the contamination through the 

environment to humans is modeled with complex mathematical methods. Research 

leads to a better understanding and assessment of all aspects of the residual 

contamination including: (1) the form and extent of the radiation source, (2) the 

performance of engineered covers used to protect public health and safety, (3) the 

effectiveness of monitoring and remediation methods, and (4) the complex ways 

that radioactive contaminants travel through the environment. 

“Human performance can significantly 

influence the reliability and safety of nuclear power plant operations. Adequate 

treatment of human interactions is key 

to understanding accident sequences and 

appropriately representing their relative 

importance to overall risk. RES continues to study human performance in 

nuclear plants and improve the methods 

for assessing human reliability.” 

–Erasmia Lois
10 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Dr. Stephanie Bush-Goddard 

has more than 20 years experience in radiation protection 

and has been a supervisor 

of the Health Effects Branch 

for more than 5 years. 

Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from 

the University of Memphis and her masters 

and doctoral degrees in environmental health 

science from the University of Michigan. 

Knowledge Management 

Knowledge management is the process organizations use to collect and preserve 

important institutional knowledge and make it easily accessible to staff. Nurturing employees through effective knowledge management is a top priority at NRC 

because of the influx of new employees and ongoing retirements. 

RES supports the agency’s knowledge management goals through frequent RES 

Seminars featuring speakers who give presentations on technical topics. In addition, 

RES periodically hosts large events to recognize anniversaries of important occurrences in the nuclear industry. For example, RES recognized the 30th anniversary 

of the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) Unit 2 by arranging a seminar with 

notable guests, video, and exhibits. These unique educational opportunities are 

provided for employees only and are designed to foster a well-informed workforce.

The office also develops publications and other educational tools (e.g., models) to 

ensure that important information is consolidated and available to staff and the 

public. Examples include a publication on the history of fire regulation as well as a 

scale model and lessons-learned brochure on the 2001 Davis-Besse reactor 

pressure vessel head degradation event.

“NRC’s motto is ‘Protecting 

People and the Environment.’ 

RES continues to monitor and 

conduct radiation protection 

and health effects projects 

in the reactor, radioactive 

materials, and security areas to 

ensure that the agency fulfills 

its motto.” 

–Stephanie Bush-Goddard 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 11 

Dick Thornburgh was Governor 

of Pennsylvania during the accident at TMI. RES organizes and 

sponsors educational seminars, 

and this photograph was taken 

at “The Accident at Three Mile 

Island – 30th Anniversary, A Look 

Back: Preserving the Institutional 

Memory.” 

Harold Denton was the President’s 

Representative for TMI & Director 

of the Office of Nuclear Reactor 

Regulation during the 

accident. 

In this picture, Office of Nuclear 

Regulatory Research Nuclear Safety 

Professional Development Program (NSPDP) 

participants visit TMI nuclear power plant. 

The NSPDP is a 2-year program to develop 

the next generation of nuclear safety 

professionals. 
12 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

For more information about RES, please visit: 

http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/organization/resfuncdesc.html 

Or, access the latest version of the Research Activities publication, 

NUREG-1925, which is available online in pdf format: 

http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/ 
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research 13 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

www.nrc.gov

NUREG/BR-0466

February 2010