The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC’s) International Regulatory Development Partnership (IRDP) conducted a virtual workshop on Nuclear Power Plant Construction Licensing with the Thailand Office of Atoms for Peace (OAP). This virtual workshop included the dates of September 20-23, November 7-11, November 14 and 15, and November 30 - December 2, 2022. During the workshop, eight IRDP instructors, along with five subject matter experts from the NRC Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, discussed construction licensing topics for nuclear power plants. The workshop presentations covered a wide scope of topics and plant systems to assist OAP in their development of draft Ministerial Regulations for nuclear facilities, particularly for Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). The presentations included:
- Module 1, Overview of 10 CFR Parts 20 and 50, and Part 50 General Design Criteria Applicable to Workshop Systems
- Module 2, Standard Review Plan (SRP), NUREG-0800
- Module 3, Containment and Design Basis Accidents
- Module 4, Fire protection (NRR presentation)
- Module 5, Ventilation and filtration systems
- Module 6, Station Service Water and liquid discharge systems
- Module 7, Shielding (material provided to OAP without presentation)
- Module 8, Nuclear quality assurance program with focus on Construction
- Module 9, Electrical power AC and DC systems
- Module 10, Storage of new and spent fuel
- Module 11, Transportation of new fuel
- Module 12, NPP building structural design and analysis including seismic resistance)
- Module 13, Modular Construction Practices
- Module 14, Lighting and communications (material provided to OAP without presentation)
- Module 15, Emergency diesel generator and auxiliary systems
- Module 16, Compressed Air (material provided to OAP without presentation)
- Reactor Auxiliary Cooling Water (material provided to OAP without presentation)
For each NPP system or topical area the following aspects were covered: a description of the system along with its safety functions; regulatory requirements from Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations; related staff review practices contained in the SRP and Regulatory Guides; and related example extracts from licensing Safety Analysis Reports. Because of time limitations, the materials for four of the modules were provided to OAP without an accompanying presentation.
Staff members from the OAP licensing and inspection groups attended, as well as representatives from the Suranaree University of Technology, the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology, and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The workshop participants asked insightful questions that prompted more in-depth discussions on topics of interest. The workshop participants gained an increased understanding of the applicable NRC regulations and construction licensing protocols for NPPs.