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http://dx.doi.org/10.5516/NET.2008.40.5.349

PRA RESEARCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RISK-INFORMED REGULATION AT THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION  

Siu, Nathan (Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission)
Collins, Dorothy (Department of Communication Studies, Texas A&M University, College Station)
Publication Information
Nuclear Engineering and Technology / v.40, no.5, 2008 , pp. 349-364 More about this Journal
Abstract
Over the years, probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) research activities conducted at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have played an essential role in support of the agency's move towards risk-informed regulation. These research activities have provided the technical basis for NRC's regulatory activities in key areas; provided PRA methods, tools, and data enabling the agency to meet future challenges; supported the implementation of NRC's 1995 PRA Policy Statement by assessing key sources of risk; and supported the development of necessary technical and human resources supporting NRC's risk-informed activities. PRA research aimed at improving the NRC's understanding of risk can positively affect the agency's regulatory activities, as evidenced by three case studies involving research on fire PRA, human reliability analysis (HRA), and pressurized thermal shock (PTS) PRA. These case studies also show that such research can take a considerable amount of time, and that the incorporation of research results into regulatory practice can take even longer. The need for sustained effort and appropriate lead time is an important consideration in the development of a PRA research program aimed at helping the agency address key sources of risk for current and potential future facilities.
Keywords
Probabilistic Risk Assessment; U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Risk-Informed Regulation; Fire Risk; Human Reliability Analysis; Pressurized Thermal Shock;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
Times Cited By Web Of Science : 2  (Related Records In Web of Science)
Times Cited By SCOPUS : 2
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