ROP References
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Inspection Guidance
- IMC 2515, "Light Water Reactor Inspection Program -- Operations Phase" - Description of inspection program at operating power reactor facilities
- Baseline Inspections (IMC 2515 Appendix A) – Inspection procedures performed annually at all plants
- Supplemental Inspections (IMC 2515 Appendix B) – Inspection procedures performed at plants with performance indicators and inspection findings of some safety significance
- Special and Infrequent Inspections (IMC 2515 Appendix C) – Inspection procedures performed for selected safety issues and infrequently performed inspections
- IMC 0611, "Power Reactor Inspection Reports" – Guidance for document inspection findings in an inspection report
- IMC 0609, "Significance Determination Process (SDP)" – Guidance for assessing the risk significance of inspection findings. SDPs for findings in various cornerstones are in appendixes to MC 0609. Risk-Informed Inspection Notebooks are site-specific information used in the SDP, including initiating event likelihood ratings, initiators and system dependency, SDP phase 2 worksheets, and SDP event trees.
- Risk Assessment of Operational Events (RASP) Handbook - Methods and guidance that the NRC staff use to achieve more consistent results when performing risk assessments of operational events and licensee performance issues.
- Volume 1 – Internal Events (Revision 2.02)
- Volume 2 – External Events (Revision 1.01)
- Volume 3 – SPAR Model Review (Revision 2)
- Volume 4 – Shutdown Events (Revision 1.0)
- MD 8.3, "NRC Incident Investigation Program" – Guidance for agency response to significant events
- IMC 0308, Attachment 2, "Technical Basis for Inspection Program" – Technical basis for the inspection program
- IMC 0308, Attachment 3, "Significance Determination Process Basis Document" – Technical basis for the various SDPs.
- Index of Operating Experience Smart Samples (Pilot Program) - Operating Experience Smart Sample (OpESS) provide a detailed synopsis of selected operating experience that can be used as an additional tool by agency staff in ROP inspection preparation.
- Index of Manual Chapters – Manual Chapters (MCs) are written administrative or inspection program statements of policy that focus on safety issues.
- Index of Inspection Procedures – Inspection Procedures (IPs) are statements of requirements and guidance for inspection activities that focus on safety issues.
- A complete index of program documents for the NRC's oversight program is available on the NRC Inspection Manual Web page, including Temporary Instructions and Technical Guidance.
Assessment Guidance
- IMC 0305, "Operating Reactor Assessment Program" – Description of NRC's assessment process for inspection findings and performance indicators, including agency response to these items (e.g., the Action Matrix)
- IMC 0350, "Oversight of Operating Reactors in a Shutdown Condition with Performance Problems"
- IMC 0307, "Reactor Oversight Process Self-Assessment Program"
- MD 8.14, "Agency Action Review Meeting" - Description of the annual meeting of senior NRC management to review ROP actions
- IMC 0308, Attachment 4, "Technical Basis for Assessment" – Technical basis for the assessment program
Enforcement and Allegations Guidance
- NRC Enforcement Policy
- IMC 0308, Attachment 5, "Technical Basis for Enforcement" – Technical basis for the enforcement program as it relates to the ROP
- MD 8.8, "Management of Allegations"
Policy Documents
- MD 8.13, "Reactor Oversight Process" – ROP policy, including discussion of regulatory framework and the seven cornerstones of safety
- IMC 0308, "Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) Basis Document" – The document and its attachments describe the basis for the significant decisions reached by the NRC staff during the development and implementation of the ROP.
- SECY-00-0061, "Proposed Revision to the Enforcement Policy to Address the Revised Reactor Oversight Process"
- SECY-00-0049, "Results of the Revised Reactor Oversight Process Pilot Program"
- SECY-99-007A, "Recommendations for Reactor Oversight Process Improvements"
- SECY-99-007, "Recommendations for Reactor Oversight Process Improvements"
- Annual ROP Self-Assessment Commission papers
- Industry Trends
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, August 13, 2025