Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Audit of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Use of Operating Experience in Emergency Diesel Generators Oversight

Report Information

Date Issued
Report Number
OIG-NRC-25-A-10
Report Type
Audit
Description
The OIG found that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) effectively uses operating experience (OpE) information to inspect Emergency Diesel Generators (EDGs) at operating nuclear power plants. However, the agency could strengthen the Reactor OpE Program by updating guidance and assessing the program, and ensuring the EDG Technical Review Group (TRG) members know their roles and responsibilities.Currently, the guidance provided in Office Instruction LIC-401, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) Reactor Operating Experience, and NRR’s Operating Experience Staff Handbook is outdated. In addition, the NRC does not have an assessment process for the Reactor OpE Program. Assessing the Reactor OpE Program periodically could help staff and management determine whether the program meets its objectives and staff are using relevant guidance to process OpE information. Moreover, the NRC lacks policies and procedures for the EDG TRGs, which may lead to inconsistent practices, reduced productivity, and missed opportunities to disposition EDG-related OpE information.The OIG makes seven recommendations to strengthen the Reactor Operating Experience Program implementation process.
Joint Report
No
Agency Wide
Yes (agency-wide)
Questioned Costs
$0
Funds for Better Use
$0
View report on Oversight.gov

Recommendations

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations establish an assessment process to periodically assess the Reactor OpE Program.

Agency Response Dated July 7, 2026: Completed Actions: The staff have incorporated the<br />
assessment process into the 2026 revision of the MD 8.7 directive handbook and also added a dedicated Assessment Section on the Reactor OpE SharePoint site.<br />
Status: In progress. Corresponding changes have been incorporated into the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and the associated directive handbook. This item will be considered complete upon publication of the revised MD and directive handbook.<br />
Revised Target Date for Completion: December, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions described in the agency’s response meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation upon confirming the full establishment of the assessment process and the inclusion of updates to the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and associated directive handbook.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff will include a process for assessing the OpE Program in the updated directive handbook for the next revision of Management Directive (MD) 8.7, “Reactor Operating Experience Program.”<br />
Target date for completion: June 2026. <br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed action meets the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation<br />
after ensuring the revised Management Directive (MD) 8.7, “Reactor Operating Experience Program” reflects the process<br />
for assessing the OpE Program. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update LIC-401 to include a description of the current process by which staff assess the significance of OpE information.

Agency Response Dated July 7, 2026: Completed Actions: The staff incorporated all applicable<br />
content in LIC-401 into the 2026 revision to the MD 8.7 directive handbook. Step-by-step guidance provided as “How-To” instructional sheets have been developed and are<br />
included in the Reactor OpE SharePoint site.<br />
Status: In progress. Corresponding changes have been incorporated into the 2026 revision to the MD 8.7 directive handbook. This item will be considered complete upon publication of the revised MD and directive handbook.<br />
Revised Target Date for Completion: December, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The agency’s proposed actions do not meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG reviewed the “How-to” instructional sheets on the Reactor OpE SharePoint site and<br />
found that they do not describe the current process staff use to assess the significance of OpE information; nor do they contain any substantive content. Therefore, the OIG will close this recommendation after confirming that the agency has updated the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and its accompanying handbook to include a description of the current process staff use to assess the significance of the OpE information. This recommendation remains open and<br />
resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) is awaiting decisions on reorganization to determine whether LIC 401, “NRR Reactor Operating Experience Program,” will be updated to reflect the current process the staff uses to assess the significance of OpE, whether it will also be updated to reflect a reorganization, or whether the information is better contained in the MD 8.7 directive handbook and referenced desktop guides instead of LIC-401. Target date for completion: June 2026.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation<br />
after the agency, at its discretion, provides the selected product and a description of how staff will assess the significance of OpE information. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations update the Staff Handbook to provide step-by-step guidance for implementing the requirements stated in the updated LIC-401.

Agency Response Dated July 7, 2026: Completed Actions: The Staff Handbook guidance files and LIC-401 were used as the foundation to create the 2026 revision to the MD 8.7 directive handbook. Associated “How-To” instructional sheets have been developed and are included in the Reactor OpE SharePoint site. Status: In progress. Corresponding changes have been<br />
incorporated into the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and the associated directive handbook. This item will be considered complete upon publication of the revised MD and directive<br />
handbook. Revised Target Date for Completion: December, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The agency’s proposed actions do not meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG reviewed the “How-to” instructional sheets included in the Reactor OpE SharePoint<br />
site and concluded that the “How-to” sheets do not provide a complete description of the OpE process comparable to the guidance in the outdated Staff Handbook and LIC-401,<br />
which are no longer in use. Therefore, the OIG cannot conclude that the “How-to” sheets provide comprehensive, step-by-step guidance for implementing the requirements of the OpE process. The OIG will close this recommendation after reviewing and confirming that the “How-to” instructional sheets on the Reactor OpE SharePoint site, together with the updates to the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 directive and handbook, provide complete step-by-step<br />
guidance for implementing the requirements of the OpE process, consistent with OIG recommendation 1.3. This recommendation remains open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is in the process of achieving the objective of this recommendation by updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to provide the recommended guidance. The updated directive handbook will direct users to an active link where desktop guides with current, step-by-step instructions reside for implementing the program that can be easily updated when processes and links change. Target date for completion: June 2026. <br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation<br />
after ensuring the updated MD 8.7 handbook provides the step-by-step guidance for implementing the program<br />
requirements. This recommendation remains open and resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations include within the updated LIC-401 and Staff Handbook guidance a description of the purpose of “Instruction Sheets” as interim guidance and indicate where they are located, as needed.

Agency Response Dated<br />
July 7, 2026: Completed Actions: The description and purpose of the<br />
“How-To” instructional guides were added to the “How-To<br />
sheets (Description &amp; Purpose)” Section of the Reactor OpE<br />
SharePoint site. Additionally, corresponding changes were<br />
incorporated in the 2026 revision of the MD and directive<br />
handbook which is pending publication.<br />
Status: In Progress. Corresponding changes have been<br />
incorporated into the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and the<br />
associated directive handbook. This item will be considered<br />
complete upon publication of the revised MD and directive<br />
handbook.<br />
Revised Target Date for Completion: December, 2026 OIG Analysis: The agency’s proposed actions for the “How-To” instructional sheet’s title and description of the named activity meet the intent of this recommendation. However, these instructional sheets do not meet the “Description &amp; Purpose” requirement because the agency does not include this as a section in the document. The OIG will close this recommendation after confirming that the updated MD 8.7 directive handbook (1) identifies the instruction sheets as guidance by describing their purpose and (2) includes an active link to access them. This recommendation remains<br />
open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is updating the directive handbook associated with MD 8.7 to implement this recommendation. The updated directive handbook will include a description of the purpose of the desktop guides, based on the current Instruction Sheets, and an active link to find them. Target date for completion: June 2026.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation<br />
after confirming that the updated directive handbook includes (1) a description of the desktop guides’ purpose<br />
based on the current Instruction Sheets, and (2) an active link to find them. This recommendation remains open and<br />
resolved.

The OIG recommends that the Executive Director for Operations develop, communicate, and implement policies and procedures for the EDG TRGs.

Agency Response Dated July 7, 2026: Completed Actions: The staff have developed the policies and procedures for TRGs that is documented within the “Technical Review Group (TRG)” Section on the Reactor OpE SharePoint site. Status: In progress. Corresponding changes have been incorporated into the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and the associated directive handbook. This item will be considered complete upon publication of the revised MD and directive<br />
handbook. Revised Target Date for Completion: December, 2026<br />
OIG Analysis: The OIG reviewed the policy and procedure the agency developed and included in the Reactor OpE SharePoint site and concluded that the proposed actions described in the<br />
agency’s response meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation after confirming that the corresponding changes have been incorporated into the 2026 revision of MD 8.7 and the associated directive handbook. This recommendation remains open and resolved.<br />
<br />
Agency Response Dated October 2, 2025: The staff is developing policies and procedures for TRGs that will be documented in the desktop guide for administering the TRG process, which will be referenced by the MD 8.7 directive handbook currently being drafted. Target date for completion: June 2026.<br />
OIG Analysis: The proposed actions meet the intent of this recommendation. The OIG will close this recommendation<br />
after reviewing the documented TRG’s policies and procedures in the desktop guide for administering the TRG process, which the MD 8.7 directive handbook will reference. This recommendation remains open and resolved.