Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: b647b09e-9948-474b-8b4a-d2e08837ffa5
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:
he 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 the emergency plan and, hence, no reduction in effectiveness. Also, the relevant regulations are still met. It is important to note that the 10 CFR 50.54(q)(3) conclusion was not predicated on the 10 CFR 50.48(f)(3) analysis (a different change process) but, rather, on the onshift staffing analysis. However, this conclusion would not have been valid if the onshift staffing analysis had been based on a reduced suite of accident scenarios predicated on a permanent cessation of operation. The reduction in effectiveness evaluation is a comparison between the current NRC-approved emergency plan, and the emergency plan with the changes being considered. In other words, compare the licensee’s commitment in the current NRC-approved emergency plan with what would be the commitment after the plan is modified. Plant reconfigurations enabled by other change processes (e.g., 10 CFR 50.59, 10 CFR 50.48(f), 10 CFR 50.82, 10 CFR 52.110, etc.) do not factor into this comparison. This is a yes-no decision: the change would reduce the effectiveness of the emergency plan or it would not. There are no degrees of reduction (e.g., “minor” reduction). It is inappropriate for a licensee to conclude that certain commitments made in the NRC-approved plan are no longer required and to then compare the emergency plan as modified to this conclusion, rather than the NRC-approved plan. The emergency planning functions were derived from the planning standard functions that subject matter experts from the nuclear power industry and the NRC established during the development of the emergency preparedness cornerstone of the reactor oversight process (ROP). Regulatory Position 4 of this guide tabulates the emergency planning functions, the supporting requirements in Appendix E to 10 CFR Part 50, and