The OIG found that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) effectively uses operating experience (OpE) information to inspect Emergency Diesel Generators (EDGs) at operating nuclear power plants. However, the agency could strengthen the Reactor OpE Program by updating guidance and assessing the program, and ensuring the EDG Technical Review Group (TRG) members know their roles and responsibilities.
Currently, the guidance provided in Office Instruction LIC-401, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Reactor Operating Experience, and NRR’s Operating Experience Staff Handbook is outdated. In addition, the NRC does not have an assessment process for the Reactor OpE Program. Assessing the Reactor OpE Program periodically could help staff and management determine whether the program meets its objectives and staff are using relevant guidance to process OpE information. Moreover, the NRC lacks policies and procedures for the EDG TRGs, which may lead to inconsistent practices, reduced productivity, and missed opportunities to disposition EDG-related OpE information.
The OIG makes seven recommendations to strengthen the Reactor Operating Experience Program implementation process.
Report File
Date Issued
Submitting OIG
Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG
Agencies Reviewed/Investigated
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Report Number
OIG-NRC-25-A-10
Report Description
Report Type
Audit
Agency Wide
Yes
Number of Recommendations
7
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
Report updated under NDAA 5274
No
Open Recommendations
This report has 7 open recommendations.
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff will include a process for assessing the OpE Program in the updated directive handbook for the next revision of Management Directive (MD) 8.7, “Reactor Operating Experience Program.” Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed action meets the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after ensuring the revised Management Directive (MD) 8.7, “Reactor Operating Experience Program” reflects the process for assessing the OpE Program. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations establish an assessment process to periodically assess the Reactor OpE Program. | |||||
| 1.2 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) is awaiting decisions on reorganization to determine whether LIC 401, “NRR Reactor Operating Experience Program,” will be updated to reflect the current process the staff uses to assess the significance of OpE, whether it will also be updated to reflect a reorganization, or whether the information is better contained in the MD 8.7 directive handbook and referenced desktop guides instead of LIC-401. Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after the agency, at its discretion, provides the selected product and a description of how staff will assess the significance of OpE information. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update LIC-401 to include a description of the current process by which staff assess the significance of OpE information. | |||||
| 1.3 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is in the process of achieving the objective of this recommendation by updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to provide the recommended guidance. The updated directive handbook will direct users to an active link where desktop guides with current, step-by-step instructions reside for implementing the program that can be easily updated when processes and links change. Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after ensuring the updated MD 8.7 handbook provides the step-by-step guidance for implementing the program requirements. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update the Staff Handbook to provide step-by-step guidance for implementing the requirements stated in the updated LIC-401. | |||||
| 1.4 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to implement this recommendation. The updated directive handbook will include a description of the purpose of the desktop guides, based on the current Instruction Sheets, and an active link to find them. Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after confirming that the updated directive handbook includes (1) a description of the desktop guides’ purpose based on the current Instruction Sheets, and (2) an active link to find them. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations include within the updated LIC-401 and Staff Handbook guidance a description of the purpose of “Instruction Sheets” as interim guidance and indicate where they are located, as needed. | |||||
| 2.1 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is developing policies and procedures for TRGs that will be documented in the desktop guide for administering the TRG process, which will be referenced by the MD 8.7 directive handbook currently being drafted. Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing the documented TRG’s policies and procedures in the desktop guide for administering the TRG process, which the MD 8.7 directive handbook will reference. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations develop, communicate, and implement policies and procedures for the EDG TRGs. | |||||
| 2.2 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: A self-assessment of the TRG process was completed on July 15, 2025, identifying areas for improvement in the TRG program. The Division of Reactor Oversight’s Generic Communications and Operating Experience Branch is currently conducting an audit of TRG leads and members to verify lists are accurate in branch records and relevant databases. Processes for developing, communicating, and recording TRG evaluations will be included as part of the desktop guide being developed for administering the TRG process to ensure a more systematic administration of the process. Target date for completion: June 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after (1) receiving and reviewing the agency’s self-assessment report completed on July 15, 2025; (2) verifying the accuracy of the TRG leads and members list; and (3) verifying the processes the agency developed for creating, communicating, and recording TRG evaluations as part of the desktop guide. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations systematically inform EDG TRG members about their membership, update the OpE SharePoint site to show the current membership of TRGs, and record TRG evaluations in a centralized location. | |||||
| 2.3 | Yes | $0 | $0 | Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: Training materials are being updated, and the staff is exploring the potential development of a Talent Management System training module to provide centralized, easily accessible resources for all TRG members. Target date for completion: January 2026. OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing the updated training material for TRG members and the Talent Management System training module. This recommendation remains open and resolved. |
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| The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations provide and promote EDG TRG training to current members on all SharePoint sites. | |||||
