Proposed Readiness Definitions

The readiness definition subgroup evaluated the outcome of the Hanford readiness workshop and determined to evaluate the need to change/clarify the definition for the following terms:

  • Nonreactor nuclear facility
  • New nuclear facility
  • Major modification/substantial process, system, or facility modification
  • Program work
  • Shutdown/ extended shutdown/ unplanned shutdown

The working group assigned each term to a group member and had the member research and develop a white paper for each definition. Each white paper was to address:

  1. Term in Question:
  2. Is term currently used in DOE Order 425, Guide 3006, or ORR Team leaders Handbook (Y/N)
  3. Is term considered adequate as used? (Y/N) If yes, is issue one of consistency in usage is needed in the Order, Standard, or Handbook?
  4. Basis for why the term may need to be redefined, readdressed, etc:
  5. Suggested definition for term:
  6. Sections of DOE Order 425, Guide 3006, or ORR Team leaders Handbook that need to be modified to reflect new definition.

The white papers are on the readiness website. Below is the results of those white papers in a form to be used as input to the other working subgroups.

NOTE: These definitions are in no way final and may be modified based on the work of the other subgroup.

Nonreactor Nuclear Facility - Definition White Paper Discussion Forum

Nonreactor nuclear facility means those facilities, activities or operations that involve, or will involve, radioactive and/or fissionable materials in such form or quantity that a nuclear or nuclear explosive hazard potentially exists to workers, the public, or the environment, but does not include accelerators and their operations, and does not include activities involving only incidental use and generation of radioactive materials or radiation such as check and calibration sources, use of sources in research and experimental and analytical laboratory activities, electron microscopes, and X-ray machines.

Nuclear facility means a reactor or a nonreactor nuclear facility where an activity is conducted for or on the behalf of DOE and includes any related area, structure, facility, or activity to the extent necessary to ensure proper implementation of the requirements established in this part.

Activities/Operations that must be included in the term Facility are those activities/operations that have, or will have, a Documented Safety Analysis. Nuclear Explosive Operations that have a DSA (typically a Hazards Analysis Report - HAR) are a programmatic work, and are not an "activity/operation" that must be considered a "facility".

New Nuclear Facility - Definition White Paper Discussion Forum

New Nuclear Facility means a reactor or a nonreactor nuclear facility where an activity is conducted for or on behalf of DOE (beginning operations on or after April 9, 2001) and includes any related area, structure, facility, or activity to the extent necessary to ensure proper implementation of the requirements established in 10CFR830.

Unless modified, the term refers to an entire new facility (or conversion of an existing non-nuclear facility to a nuclear mission) devoted to the operation and maintenance of a new program activity and is generally covered by a unique Authorization Agreement and Documented Safety Analysis.

Major Modification/substantial Process, System, or Facility Modification - Definition White Paper Discussion Forum

The term "Major Modification" is not used in any of the readiness documents. Because of this, it is recommended that DOE Order 425.1 not use the term "Major Modification" as a part of any criteria for when a readiness review is needed. Rather it is highly recommended that the term "Substantial Change" be used. Further since DOE Order 425.1 applies a graded approach, it is recommended that this definition be similarly graded to apply at the three levels currently discussed in the Order (i.e., Facility, Activity, and Operation). Therefore the following three definitions are offered:

Substantial Change to a Facility - A change is considered a substantial change at the facility level if the change meets one or more of the items from a through c plus one or more of the items from d through g:

  1. Increases the material inventory or the change increases the Hazard Category (HC) of an existing facility; and/or
  2. Alters the footprint of an existing HC 1, 2 or 3 facility with the potential to adversely impact one or more credited safety functions of the existing facility; and/or
  3. Introduces a new hazard not previously analyzed that requires an Accident Analysis.

AND if the change also:

  1. Requires the expansion of work into an existing area of a facility that is not currently within the Authorization Basis for that facility; and/or
  2. Requires a structural addition to an existing building or structure, where the addition is designed to house hazardous activities or operations that will require a new or revised authorization basis; and/or
  3. Involves environmental remediation activities in a new geographic area, structure, or building, provided that the work can reasonably be expected to encounter quantities of nuclear materials that would require designation as a hazard category 2 nuclear facility per DOE-STD-1027-92, Attachment 1; and/or
  4. Requires deactivation, decommissioning, or demolition of a facility or activity within a facility.

Substantial Change to an Activity - A change is considered a substantial change at the activity level if the change meets one or more of the items:

  1. Applies a new (i.e., not currently in use or not previously formally reviewed/approved by DOE) technology to an existing activity for the affected facility such that it is effectively a new activity; or
  2. Substantially changes two or more operations that may be associated with the same or different activities.
  3. Substantial Change to an Operation - A change is considered a substantial change at the operation level under the following conditions:
  4. Impact an existing Safety-Class or Safety-Significant system structure or component (SSC) such that it affects the SSCs credited safety function; or
  5. Create the need for new or revised Technical Safety Requirement (TSR) controls (hardware or administrative, including new passive design feature); or
  6. Involves a hazard not previously evaluated in the DSA that will likely require a change to the DSA; or
  7. Applies a new (i.e., not currently in use or not previously formally reviewed / approved by DOE) technology to an existing operation for the affected facility such that it is effectively a new operation.

Program Work

Program work is work in a reactor or non-reactor nuclear facility that is accomplished to further the goals of the facility mission and/or the program for which the facility is operated. Program work is not accomplished when a facility is shutdown. Program work does not include work that would be required to maintain the facility in a safe shutdown condition, maintain radioactive material storage (unless that is the facility's function), or accomplish modifications and correct deficiencies required before program work can recommence. In addition, program work does not include activities required to maintain the health and safety posture of the facility; activities required to maintain environmental compliance of the facility; activities required to maintain security levels of the facility; activities required to comply with safety management program implementation; and activities required for maintenance of facility/equipment.

Shutdown/extended Shutdown/unplanned Shutdown - Definition White Paper Discussion Forum

It is recommended that these definitions not be modified.