Nuclear Regulation. Strategy Needed to Regulate Safety Using Information on Risk

摘要

In the United States today, 103 operating nuclear power plants supply electricity211u001eto about 65 million households, meeting about 20 percent of the nation's needs. 211u001eNow, the entire electric utility industry is faced with an unprecendented 211u001edevelopment: the economic restructuring of the nation's electric power system, 211u001efrom a regulated industry to one driven by competition. You asked us to examine 211u001evarious issues related to the safe operation of commercial nuclear power plants. 211u001eAs agreed with your offices, this report addresses (1) some of the challenges 211u001ethat NRC and the nuclear power industry could experience in a competitive 211u001eenvironment, (2) issues that NRC needs to resolve to implement a risk-informed 211u001eregulatory approach, and (3) the status of NRC's efforts to apply a risk-informed 211u001eregulatory approach to two of its oversight programs-plant safety assessments and 211u001eenforcement.