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Open Recommendations (19 total)

Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate Change

GAO-24-106326
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to assess whether its licensing and oversight processes adequately address the potential for increased risks to nuclear power plants from climate change. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Nuclear Power Plants: NRC Should Take Actions to Fully Consider the Potential Effects of Climate Change

GAO-24-106326
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to develop, finalize, and implement a plan to address any gaps identified in its assessment of existing processes. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chair of the NRC should direct NRC staff to develop and finalize guidance on incorporating climate projections data into relevant processes, including what sources of climate projections data to use and when and how to use climate projections data. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Cybersecurity: Federal Agencies Made Progress, but Need to Fully Implement Incident Response Requirements

GAO-24-105658
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should ensure that the agency fully implements all event logging requirements as directed by OMB guidance. (Recommendation 18)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

High-Risk Radioactive Material: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Security of Sources No Longer in Use

GAO-24-105998
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of the NRC should comprehensively assess leading practices that, if implemented, would minimize the time that disused sources are in a licensee's possession. These practices include financial assurances for all category 1, 2, and 3 sources; tracking of category 3 sources; possession time limits or fees for disused sources; and orphan source funds. (Recommendation 3)
Open
As of March 2024, this recommendation has not been implemented. We will follow-up with the agency and update the status of the recommendation when we have additional information.

High-Risk Radioactive Material: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Security of Sources No Longer in Use

GAO-24-105998
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of the NRC, in coordination with DOE and in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, should conduct an analysis to evaluate options and take action to facilitate long-term storage, within agency authorities, to better secure foreign-origin americium-241 until a permanent disposal or viable recycling option is available. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of March 2024, this recommendation has not been implemented. We will follow-up with the agency and update the status of the recommendation when we have additional information.

Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors

GAO-23-105997
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of NRC should direct staff to develop procedures for establishing and managing a review schedule for an incomplete application, including applications for first-of-a-kind designs. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In February 2024, NRC stated that it expected it would be very rare to accept an incomplete application. Instead, the agency would begin portions of its review without accepting the application for docketing. Although NRC considers accepting incomplete applications unlikely, we continue to believe that having procedures in place to manage the review schedule for an incomplete application would be beneficial, given that advanced reactor designs may have novel or first-of-a-kind designs. We continue to believe that developing procedures would provide additional clarity to developers preparing to submit applications.

Nuclear Power: NRC Needs to Take Additional Actions to Prepare to License Advanced Reactors

GAO-23-105997
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3 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of NRC should direct staff to clarify in information provided to advanced reactor developers how and when they should engage with the ACRS during the licensing process. (Recommendation 4)
Open
In February 2024, NRC stated that the ACRS has increased communication and the transparency of its review processes. The ACRS issued best practices guidance in July 2023 for ACRS members, which is intended to set staff and applicant expectations for ACRS reviews. In addition, NRC staff and the Chair of the ACRS communicated the process of scheduling ACRS reviews to stakeholders during an advanced reactor stakeholder meeting held on July 20, 2023. When we confirm that NRC has developed direct advanced reactor applicant guidance, we will update the record.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of NRC should direct staff to finalize draft preapplication guidance to clarify the extent to which advanced reactor developers should participate in preapplication activities. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In February 2024, NRC stated that it will finalize preapplication guidance in early 2024 after consideration of public comments. When we confirm what actions NRC has taken in response to this recommendation, we will update the record.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission The Chairman of NRC should direct staff to establish benchmarks and measures to assess its recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives and strategies to determine their effectiveness to help NRC retain and hire the staff necessary to license advanced reactors. (Recommendation 3)
Open
In February 2024, NRC stated that it is currently evaluating its strategic workforce planning process. NRC expects this evaluation to result in refining the benchmarks and measures that it will use to assess program effectiveness. NRC is also exploring options to address future potential peaks in advanced reactor licensing work, including reassigning NRC staff throughout the agency and using contractors. When we confirm what actions NRC has taken in response to this recommendation, we will update the record.
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