Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 3e914c02-41b3-4c0b-9c94-7e4a07215354
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Guidance on Making Changes to Emergency Plans for Nuclear Power Reactors (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1505/ML15054A370.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.219
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
process offers three possible outcomes: (1) The change is such that the emergency plan, as modified, would no longer comply with one or more applicable regulations. The licensee would need to request a specific exemption under 10 CFR 50.12, “Specific Exemptions.” For example, a licensee who seeks to cease periodic updates of evacuation time estimates would need to request specific exemptions from 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E, Sections IV.2-7. DG-1324, Page 6 (2) Although the emergency plan would comply with the applicable regulations, the change involves a reduction in the effectiveness of the emergency plan. The licensee would need to request prior NRC approval through a license amendment request under 10 CFR 50.90. For example, the NRC-approved emergency plan at an operating reactor describes a fire department, located within the protected area, and staffed full-time 24/7 by qualified firefighters. The licensee seeks to replace this department with an onshift fire brigade staffed with personnel having other concurrent responsibilities, and augmented by a fire department located further away from the site. The licensee’s 10 CFR 50.54(q)(3) analysis determined that the proposed arrangement would delay fire suppression efforts as compared to that for the fire department described in the NRC-approved emergency plan, resulting in a reduction in effectiveness. (3) The change does not involve a reduction in effectiveness and the emergency plan, as modified, continues to meet applicable regulations. The licensee may put this change into place without prior NRC approval. For example, a licensee seeks to remove two onshift positions identified in the emergency plan for supporting the fire brigade. The change process in 10 CFR 50.48(f)(3) allowed the licensee to reduce the size of the onshift fire brigade. The licensee re-analyzed the onshift staffing and determined that there would be no reduction in the capability to perform emergency planning functions assigned in